ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) — The Senate on Monday rejected a motion to introduce a private member’s bill seeking to restrict the issuance of diplomatic passports to ministers of state, advisers, special assistants and senior bureaucrats, while approving other legislation and unanimously adopting a resolution on Kashmir.
The Passports (Amendment) Bill, 2026, 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.
Opposing the proposed legislation, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry argued that it sought to interfere with the authority of the federal cabinet.
Rehman responded that diplomatic passports should primarily be issued to ministers and that their distribution should not become a privilege attached to official rank.
PPP Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro countered that ministers of state were also representatives of Parliament.
According to the bill’s statement of objects and reasons, the proposed amendment sought to introduce Section 12A into the Passports Act, 1974, to prevent diplomatic passports from being issued, renewed or reissued solely on the basis of holding certain public offices.
The proposed restrictions covered ministers of state, advisers and special assistants to the prime minister, federal secretaries other than the foreign secretary, and director generals.
Existing diplomatic passports held by these officials would have had to be surrendered within 30 days of the law’s commencement.
The bill clarified that the proposed restrictions would not prevent eligible individuals from obtaining ordinary or official passports, nor affect diplomatic passport entitlements arising independently from another office, appointment or diplomatic assignment.
Its sponsors argued that diplomatic passports should reflect the nature of diplomatic and state functions rather than automatically accompany political status or seniority.
The motion to introduce the bill was rejected.
Consumer protection bill passes amid political tensions
The Senate also passed the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, despite opposition from the government.
The legislation, moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri of the Balochistan Awami Party, received 10 votes in favour and four against after voting was held for a second time.
The proceedings were marked by a heated exchange between PML-N Senator Nasir Butt and PPP Senator Sherry Rehman. PPP senators subsequently walked out of the House.
Tallal Chaudhry opposed the bill, while Zehri criticised the government for resisting the legislation.
The Senate unanimously approved another bill seeking to amend the Islamabad Capital Territory (Prohibition of Plastic Book Covers) Act, 2026, by removing an exemption considered inconsistent with the law’s objectives.
Speaking during the proceedings, Rehman said plastic book covers continued to be used by some large shops in Islamabad. She also raised concerns about the difficulty of verifying claims that certain plastic products were biodegradable.
According to Rehman, the amendment was intended to remove legal ambiguity and strengthen the prohibition on plastic book covers in the federal capital.
The House also approved an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) but deferred consideration of the Islamabad Metro Bus Service Bill, 2026.
PTI questions changes to KP constituencies
PTI parliamentary leader in the Senate Barrister Ali Zafar raised concerns about changes to descriptions of several National Assembly and provincial assembly constituencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Zafar alleged that the revisions had been made without adequately hearing public objections. He argued that constituency-related changes must comply with the Elections Act, 2017, and follow a transparent process.
He specifically referred to Section 22 of the law and called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to provide a legal justification for the changes.
Zafar also questioned the delay in appointing a successor to the chief election commissioner, whose five-year term expired on Jan. 26, 2025.
He said the constitutional provision allowing an incumbent to continue until a successor takes office should not become a justification for an indefinite delay in the appointment.
Responding to the concerns, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the issue had been raised on the basis of a newspaper report and asked senators to provide any relevant official notification. He said he would seek further information from the ECP.
Senate reaffirms support for Kashmiris
The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming Pakistan’s support for the right to self-determination of the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Kashmir Black Day on Oct. 27.
Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam moved the resolution.
It described the entry of Indian forces into Jammu and Kashmir on Oct. 27, 1947, and the subsequent occupation as a pivotal event in the Kashmir dispute.
The resolution paid tribute to Kashmiris for their continued struggle and sacrifices and called for a peaceful settlement in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
It urged the international community to take notice of alleged human rights violations in the territory and called on the United Nations to play an effective role in securing a just and lasting settlement.
The resolution also urged the Pakistani government to continue providing political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris and to intensify efforts to highlight the dispute internationally.
The Senate reiterated its commitment to supporting the people of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in their pursuit of self-determination.
