PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi’s Son Sought Asylum in Italy on Official Passport, Claims Talal Chaudhry
ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has claimed that the son of PTI Member of National Assembly Iqbal Afridi traveled to Italy on an official diplomatic-type blue passport and later applied for political asylum there.
According to reports, family members of parliamentarians are sometimes issued official blue passports for government-related travel and protocol purposes. The passports are intended to maintain diplomatic prestige and facilitate official engagements abroad.
However, allegations have now surfaced that the son of Iqbal Afridi used the official passport to enter Italy and subsequently sought political asylum from Italian authorities, an act being described by government officials as a serious misuse of official travel documents.
Speaking on the matter, Talal Chaudhry said Pakistan had received a “very harsh message” from Italy regarding the incident. He termed the alleged act “extremely embarrassing” and said such incidents damage Pakistan’s international reputation and negatively affect the credibility of the Pakistani passport.
He further stated that incidents involving asylum claims on official passports discourage foreign countries from signing agreements and memorandums of understanding with Pakistan.
اہم انکشاف، تحریک انصاف کے ایم این اے اقبال آفریدی کا بیٹا بلیو پاسپورٹ پر اٹلی گیا، وہاں جا کر اسائلم لے لیا، یہ بات سفارتی ذرائع سے پاکستان تک پہنچی، معاملہ بدنامی کا باعث بنا، طلال چوہدری pic.twitter.com/8JFwGxuiMQ
— Khurram Iqbal (@khurram143) May 13, 2026
The development has reportedly sparked debate within parliamentary circles, with increasing demands for stricter monitoring of official passport holders and legal action against individuals found misusing government-issued travel documents.
There are also calls for an official inquiry into how a holder of an official passport was able to seek asylum in another country.
So far, neither Iqbal Afridi nor the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has issued a formal response or denial regarding the allegations.
Government circles are reportedly treating the matter as an issue linked to national prestige and diplomatic credibility.
