The list includes not only sitting President, Prime Minister, but the entire parliament (national assembly as well as senate members), entire provincial assemblies, chiefs of armed forces, Chief Justice, government functionaries but also their families and those previously but no longer holding these positions.
The VIP protocol entitlements include a number of perks and privileges including security protocol which has implied inadequate security personnel deployed for the general public. "We have no argument with providing security for political leaders, but some misuse and abuse it," said Naveed Asghar, an Islamabad businessman. Use of VIP lounges at all airports, free of charge only by VIPs, is another privilege. Non-VIPs can use such lounges at a nominal charge of Rs 200 for domestic travel and Rs 1000 for international travelers.
Pakistan International Airliners (PIA) provides free air tickets to VIPs and upgrades their tickets or their family members if seats are available. Another perk provided to serving President, Prime Minister, governors, chief ministers, federal ministers, judges and high ranking civilian and military officers is road protocol which has angered the general public.
An anecdotal survey carried out by the Business Recorder revealed that this particular protocol is the most unpopular protocol from the public's perspective and has accounted for many deaths in ambulances, reprimand/firing for late arrival and frustration associated with heavy traffic jams once the road block is removed after the VIPs' passage.
Yet another perk is provided by Pakistan Railways. The parliamentarians, according to parliamentary sources, are entitled along with their families to first class railway tickets, free phone services, free medical facility etc. Under the Salaries and Allowances Act 1974, the present and former parliamentarians are entitled to a blue passport for travel. VIPs are also allowed to stay at official rest houses as well as medical treatment for themselves and members of their families in government hospitals. The VIPs are also exempted from waiting in long queues at passport offices, NADRA and other public sector offices.
A petition was filed through counsel AK Dogar in June 2013 maintaining that public spending on protocol has gone up to such a level that it violates not just the Constitution of Pakistan, but the Sunnah too. On the directive of a single bench of Lahore High Court, a larger bench will be constituted to hear the plea; however, a larger bench is yet to be constituted, AK Dogar told Business Recorder.
The warrant of precedence lays down the relative precedence in terms of ranks of important functionaries belonging to the executive, legislative and judicial organs of the state, including members of the foreign diplomatic corps and has been enforced since Independence.
The sources said the list is now being reviewed in order to upgrade and include some new categories of protocol including a separate category for the 400 highest paying taxpayers. A recent announcement by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reveals that this new category is likely to be added to the existing VIP protocol list. The FBR scheme would allow the taxpayers facilities at VIP lounges of airports, issuance of gratis passports; enhanced baggage allowance of $5,000 and excellence awards by the prime minister. Instead of getting rid of the VIP culture the government is merely adding to the list, a senior official said on condition of anonymity.