Balochistan MPAs seek life time 'Blue Passport'
- January 22, 2014, 8:15 pm
- Breaking News
- 334 Views
QUETTA, Jan 22 (APP): A joint resolution was moved by the lawmakers in
the Balochistan Assembly session held, here on Wednesday seeking life time blue passport for them, their wives and close relatives.
The assembly session was held with Speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali
in chair at about 3:45 pm.
Provincial Minister Sardar Mustafa Tareen, Pashtoonkhawa Milli Awami
Party MPAs including Abdul Majid Khan Achakzai, Manzoor Ahmed Khan Kakar, Nasrullah Khan Zeray and Agha Syed Liaquat Ali, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl MPAs- Molvi Maazallah Musakhel and Mufti Gulab Khan and MPA Abdul Malik Kakar tabled the resolution that reads: The members of the National Assembly and Senators are issued blue passport for five years. The members of provincial assembly are deprived of the facility mentioned above while as elected representatives, they have their basic right to avail the facility so that they could get relaxation in issuance of visas for their international tours. Therefore, the house recommends the provincial government to approach the federal government to issue notification for issuance of blue passport to the members of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan.
Speaking on the resolution, the mover, Liaquat Agha said that after the
passage of 18th Amendment into the Constitution, it was right of the elected representatives including the Chief Minister, Speaker and MPAs to get blue passport.
Green passport causes difficulties for MPAs in getting visa from foreign
embassies as the embassies of the USA and other European countries did not allow the MPAs to enter their premises to get visa but they ask them to pay charges to FedEx courier service and other organizations in this regard,� Agha said.
Speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali gave ruling, Bureaucracy should
keep in mind that all 1174 parliamentarians including men and women have their legal right to get blue passport.
Molvi Maazallah Musakhel said the federation behaved with Balochistan
like a step-mother, adding that blue passport should be given to the MPAs of the province as a positive step.
Nasrullah Zeray said that clerks of the Balochistan Assembly and junior
teachers were drawing more salary than MPAs of the province.The Interior Ministry should immediately implement the resolution of the Balochistan Assembly on blue passport as the elected representatives face insulting behavior at airports he said.
He added that the close relatives of the MPAs should also be given blue
passport.
Responding to him, Speaker Jamali said that MPAs and their spouses
should be given life time blue passport.
National Party MPA, Yasmin Lehri suggested that the amendment should be
included in the blue passport of medical facility for MPAs.
An MPA asked if a MPA has three wives, then whether blue passport would
be given to only single wife or to all three wives.
JUI-F MPA, Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran suggested that amendment should
be made in the resolution that parliamentarians be given lifetime passport in a specific color.
MPA Tariq Magsi said that medical and other facilities must be part of
the blue passport.
Speaker Jamali said that all required and suggested amendments shall be
included in the resolution and it should be moved again in the house on Saturday, January 25.
Provincial Information Minister, Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal moved
Balochistan Local Languages as Additional Subject at Primary Level Bill 2014.
The house gave the exemption to the bill from Balochistan Assembly Rules
of Procedure and Conduct of Business 1974.
The question hour was deferred as the movers and the ministers concerned
were not present in the house.
Later, the Speaker adjourned the house till January 25.
