Crackdown on passport violators urged
Manama, March 24, 2014
A crackdown on the misuse of Bahraini diplomatic passports was urged at yesterday's Cabinet session.
Those holding such special passports, who violate laws and privileges connected with them, will have the documents withdrawn, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.
Some have been using them to harm Bahrain, it was revealed.
The Cabinet approved in principle granting diplomatic passports for students on scholarships to international and regional organisations.
Spouses of those students as well as their children under the age of 21 and unmarried daughters will also be granted passports.
The Cabinet decided to study the possibility of granting the Foreign Minister authority to issue a resolution setting rules governing the issuance of such passports.
It also discussed the right to withdraw them in case the holder violates the laws and regulations or become engaged in acts against the state.
The Cabinet decided to return a draft law amending some provisions of Law No 11 for the year 1975 on passports to the ministerial committee for legal affairs for further study.
In another development, the Cabinet, chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, praised the visit by His Majesty King Hamad to Pakistan.
The Premier stressed the government's keenness to boost relations in many areas, including politics, economics and trade.
Government ministries and organisations were urged to benefit from this royal visit to enhance co-operation between Bahrain and Pakistan.
The Cabinet also welcomed the outcome of a visit by Tunisian Premier Mehdi Jomaa and official talks cementing ties.
It then hailed the third Bahrain International Animal Production Show (Mara'ee 2014), which was opened by the King.
The Cabinet also discussed an Industry and Commerce Ministry report on a 39 per cent increase in the number of visitors at major shopping centres. - TradeArabia News Service
