A new political controversy has emerged after officials revealed that the son of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Iqbal Afridi reportedly sought political asylum in Italy after travelling on an official passport.
The disclosure was made by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior.
According to Talal Chaudhry, the son of PTI Member of National Assembly Iqbal Afridi travelled to Europe using a blue passport before later applying for and obtaining political asylum in Italy.
Read More: Pakistani asylum applications in Europe decline after 2023 surge
The minister criticised the move, saying the incident could damage Pakistan’s international reputation and raise questions about the use of official travel documents.
He said the government had already reduced the number of blue passports issued, adding that such incidents create a negative image of the country abroad.
Talal Chaudhry questioned what message such actions send internationally, particularly when individuals associated with public office use official documentation before seeking asylum overseas.
پی ٹی آئی کے ایم این اے اقبال آفریدی کہا بیٹا بلیو پاسپورٹ پر اٹلی گیا اور اس نے وہاں جا کر اسائلم ڈیکلیئر کیا,ایسے معاملات بدنامی کا باعث بنے,بلیو پاسپورٹ کے غلط استعمال پر باقی ممالک ہمارے ساتھ ایم او یو سائن نہیں کرتے,طلال چوہدری pic.twitter.com/KeayxT0Igc
— Abbas Malik (@AbbasMalik95703) May 13, 2026
Committee members, however, raised concerns over the broader policy response, asking why restrictions should affect all eligible individuals due to the actions of a single case.
Some lawmakers reportedly argued that accountability should focus on the individual case rather than imposing wider limitations.
Reacting to the development while speaking to journalists, Iqbal Afridi questioned why attention was being placed solely on his son.
He said authorities should first disclose how many others had previously sought political asylum abroad before focusing on his family.
Afridi also made a broader comment on the country’s political environment, saying if current conditions persist, many people may consider leaving Pakistan.
The matter has sparked debate over the use of diplomatic and official passports, as well as the growing number of Pakistanis reportedly seeking asylum in foreign countries.
Read More: Italy’s far-right surge spells little change for weary migrants
Blue passports in Pakistan are typically issued to government officials and individuals travelling on official assignments.
No further details were shared regarding the timeline of the asylum process or whether any inquiry has been launched into the use of the passport in this case. The issue is likely to remain under political scrutiny in coming days.