On Monday, the Senate voted against a private member bill that aimed to stop the widespread distribution of diplomatic passports to state ministers, advisers, special assistants, and senior bureaucrats, turning down the motion to introduce the Passports (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
PTI Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman, who heads the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, presented the legislation alongside senators Samina Mumtaz Zehri and Saifullah Abro.
State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry spoke against the legislation, arguing that the proposed change interfered with cabinet authority. In response, Senator Faisal stated that the legislation concerned diplomatic passports that belong solely to ministers, noting that these travel documents should not be handed out freely.
The legislation proposed modifying the Passports Act 1974 by adding a new Section 12A to limit who can receive a diplomatic passport, specifically excluding state ministers, advisers, special assistants, federal secretaries, and director generals. Under the proposal, officials could no longer receive, renew, or keep these passports based solely on their position, and any currently held documents must be returned within 30 days.
The objects and reasons section of the bill explained that diplomatic passports serve as special travel documents meant for actual diplomatic or state duties, rather than functioning as automatic perks tied to a specific rank or title.
Additionally, the Upper House approved the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026 with 10 votes for and four against, overriding government opposition. Senator Zehri introduced this measure, which prompted a tense argument between PML-N member Nasir Butt and PPP member Sherry Rehman, resulting in a PPP walkout.
Lawmakers also gave unanimous approval to a bill altering the law that prohibits plastic book covers inside the federal capital, closing a loophole that permitted exploitation of an exemption clause.
During the session, PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Syed Ali Zafar voiced worries about the boundary changes for various national and provincial assembly constituencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, criticizing authorities for altering districts without listening to public grievances. He called for direct explanations from the Election Commission of Pakistan and highlighted worries about the slow pace in naming a replacement for the chief election commissioner.
Furthermore, the chamber passed a resolution unanimously to reiterate Pakistan backing for the self-determination rights of people in India-occupied Kashmir for Kashmir Black Day, which takes place on October 27.
