The Senate on Monday blocked a private member’s bill seeking to withdraw the free-for-all issuance of diplomatic passports to ministers of state, advisers, special assistants and senior bureaucrats and rejected the motion for introduction of the Passports (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
asserted
Senate → block → Bill
The bill was moved by PTI Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, along with senators Samina Mumtaz Zehri and Saifullah Abro.
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bill → move → Zehri
Declaring his opposition to the bill, State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said, “You are bringing an amendment to the authority of the cabinet which you have not seen.”
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you → declare → which
To this, Senator Faisal responded that the bill was about diplomatic passports, which only ministers should have.
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ministers → respond → which
“There should be no distribution in the issuance of diplomatic passports,“ he observed.
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he → observe → passports
PPP Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro argued that a minister of state is also a representative of the Parliament.
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minister → argue → Parliament
According to the copy of the bill available with Dawn, it sought to amend the Passports Act 1974 by inserting a new Section 12A for restriction on diplomatic passport entitlement of ministers of state, advisers, special assistants, federal secretaries and director generals.
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it → accord → state
It provided that no diplomatic passport shall be issued, re-issued or renewed to a minister of state, adviser to the prime minister, special assistant to the prime minister, federal secretaries other than the foreign secretary, or director general, by virtue of holding such office, and any such passport already held shall be surrendered to the prescribed authority within 30 days of commencement of the Act.
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passport → provide → Act
The proposed bill clarified that nothing shall prevent such persons from obtaining or retaining an ordinary or official passport where otherwise entitled, and nothing shall affect any independent entitlement arising by virtue of any other office, appointment or diplomatic assignment which lawfully carries such entitlement.
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which → propose → entitlement
The bill’s statement of objects and reasons noted that the Passports Rules 2021 provide for the issuance of diplomatic passports to various categories of public office holders, including state ministers and functionaries having the status of minister of state.
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Rules → note → state
“A diplomatic passport is a special travel document of the state, and its issuance should primarily correspond to the nature and requirements of diplomatic or state functions rather than operate automatically as a privilege attached to rank or status,” the bill read.
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bill → correspond → rank
It said the proposed amendment would not restrict official duties or official foreign travel, as a person may continue to obtain an ordinary or official passport where otherwise entitled.
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person → say → passport
The bill sought only to provide that holding, or having previously held, the office or status of minister of state, adviser, special assistant, federal secretary other than foreign secretary, or director general shall not, by itself, constitute an entitlement to a diplomatic passport.
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office → seek → passport
It argued that the proposed amendment was intended to ensure a clear and reasonable distinction between diplomatic functions and political status and to promote a transparent and purpose-based system for issuance of diplomatic passports.
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amendment → argue → passports
Heated exchange among allies triggers PPP walkout
The Upper House also witnessed an exchange of hot words between PML-N’s Nasir Butt and PPP’s Sherry Rehman during the passage of the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026.
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House → trigger → Bill
The bill, moved by Senator Zehri of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), was passed despite the PML-N-led government’s opposition.
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bill → move → opposition
Butt asked who the PPP was supporting, with PPP senators walking out after the episode.
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senators → ask → episode
The consumer protection bill secured 10 votes in favour and four against, after a vote was allowed for the second time.
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vote → secure → time
Chaudhry opposed the bill, while Zehri criticised the government for opposing the legislation, saying it neither worked itself nor allowed others to work.
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others → oppose → legislation
The House also unanimously passed a bill to amend the law banning plastic book covers in the federal capital to remove an exemption clause that allowed its misuse.
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that → pass → misuse
The bill, moved by PPP’s Senator Rehman, sought to amend the Islamabad Capital Territory (Prohibition of Plastic Book Covers) Act 2026.
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bill → move → Covers
According to the statement of objects and reasons, the principal Act was enacted with the object of regulating and prohibiting the use of plastic book covers within ICT.
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Act → accord → ICT
“During the examination of the provisions of the said Act, it has been considered necessary to review the exceptions and other provisions contained in section 3, particularly clause (a) of sub-section (2) thereof,” it read, adding that the continued retention of the said clause may result in an exception which is inconsistent with the intended purpose of the Act.
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which → say → Act
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Rehman said plastic covers were still being used on books in some big shops in Islamabad.
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covers → speak → Islamabad
She said a meeting with the Ministry of Interior had also been held on the issue.
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meeting → say → issue
“During checking, shopkeepers declare every plastic as biodegradable,” she said, adding that according to the interior ministry, there is no laboratory or scale available in the country to check biodegradable plastic.
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she → declare → plastic
The former climate minister highlighted that the purpose of the amendment was to remove legal ambiguity regarding plastic book covers.
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purpose → highlight → covers
“Under the amendment, there will be a complete ban on all types of plastic in Islamabad,” she said, adding that no one would have an exemption for the use of plastic.
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one → say → plastic
The Senate also approved an amendment in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), while deferring the Islamabad Metro Bus Service Bill, 2026.
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Senate → approve → Bill
PTI voices concerns over re-description of KP constituencies
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PTI → voice → constituencies
Meanwhile, PTI parliamentary leader in the Senate, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, raised serious concerns over the “description” of several national and provincial assembly constituencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deploring that the revisions were made without hearing public objections.
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revisions → raise → objections
Senator Zafar stated that constituencies determine the representation of people in Parliament and that any changes affecting them must be made strictly in accordance with the law, through a transparent process and with full public scrutiny.
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changes → state → scrutiny
“The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) cannot treat the law as optional,” he said, adding that Section 22 of the Elections Act 2017 lays down legal requirements relating to changes in constituencies.
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Section → treat → constituencies
“If the prescribed procedure has not been followed, the legality of the entire exercise is called into question.”
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legality → prescribe → question
He demanded clear answers from the ECP, asking why these changes were made without a transparent public process and who would be held responsible if the law had been violated.
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law → demand → process
Senator Zafar also expressed concern over the continued delay in appointing a successor to the chief election commissioner, whose five-year term expired on Jan 26, 2025.
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term → express → Jan
While Article 215 provides for continuation in office until a successor takes over, he said this provision must not become an excuse for indefinite delay in making an important constitutional appointment.
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provision → provide → appointment
“The government must explain why the matter remains unresolved.”
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matter → explain → ?
“An ECP that commands public confidence must be above suspicion.
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that → command → suspicion
It must not only act fairly; it must demonstrate fairness,” Senator Zafar said.
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Zafar → act → fairness
…and 17 more, not listed.
The Aporia
