Islamabad: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has claimed that the son of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Iqbal Afridi travelled to Europe on a diplomatic (blue) passport and later sought political asylum in Italy.
According to Beyond Time News, Chaudhry made the remarks while speaking at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.
He said the individual travelled to Italy via another European country where holders of official Pakistani passports can enter without a visa, adding that the incident raised concerns about misuse of diplomatic travel documents.
Government Response and Concerns
Officials noted that blue passports are issued to government officials and eligible dependents under strict conditions for official travel.
Chaudhry said the case had caused embarrassment for the country and led to a review of the issuance of diplomatic passports, resulting in a reduction in their numbers.
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Committee Reaction
Members of the committee questioned why broader restrictions were being imposed instead of taking action against individuals directly involved, urging accountability in such cases.
PTI MNA’s Response
In response, Iqbal Afridi said authorities should first disclose how many individuals have sought asylum abroad before focusing on his son.
He also warned that if current conditions persist, more people may choose to leave the country, reflecting growing dissatisfaction among citizens.
