Over 400 unauthorized individuals issued blue passports in major breach

ISLAMABAD: In a serious breach of protocol, Pakistani authorities have issued blue passports to around 400 unauthorized individuals, allowing them to travel abroad under official status. 

These blue passports, identifiable by their blue cover, are categorized under the ‘S’ classification for ‘service’ and are typically reserved for government officials on official assignments.

Credible sources told HUM Investigation Team that many of the recipients in question were not eligible to hold these passports. Sources at the Ministry of Interior revealed that these passports were issued between 2018 and 2022, in violation of regulations. 

Directorate General of Immigration and Passports issues passports. According to sources, many senior officials at the Ministry of Interior and Directorate General of Immigration and Passports were involved in issuing these passports.

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More alarmingly, over 54 individuals are still using blue passports even though they have retired or no longer hold the high-ranking positions that would entitle them to such privileges. In some cases, these passports were issued to the grown children of high-ranking officials, the sources said

In the same period, Pakistani authorities have issued a total of over 57,000 blue passports to entitled individuals.

Similarly, the Passport Control Authority has issued 1,351 red passports, which are intended for diplomats and high-ranking officials representing Pakistan internationally. 

It was also revealed that more than 35 individuals were still using red passports despite completing their official assignments months, or even years ago. 

In another significant issue, over 40,000 passports have been issued to foreign nationals, primarily of Indian, Afghan, Iranian, and Bangladeshi origin, over the past 15 years.

This includes more than 12,000 Afghan nationals who returned their Pakistani passports to Saudi officials earlier this year. 

National Database and Registration Authority officials have also come under scrutiny for issuing over 280 Computerized National Identity Cards to Iranian citizens, who later attempted to obtain Pakistani passports. 

According to the sources, the Federal Investigation Agency has now launched a probe into these irregularities.