ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, confirmed that a proposal to raise the voting age is currently being evaluated as discussions around the 28th Constitutional Amendment gain momentum. He pointed out that since candidates must be at least 25 years old to contest elections, the voting age should logically align with this requirement and be raised from 18 to 25.
Currently, Pakistani citizens are eligible to register as voters if they are at least 18 years old on January 1 of the year when electoral rolls are updated. Additionally, voters must reside in the relevant electoral area to be registered there.
During a televised discussion, the PML-N senator elaborated that the 28th Amendment talks encompass various governance and policy topics, including the distribution of resources under the National Finance Commission (NFC), population control strategies, and plans for constructing new water reservoirs. He emphasized that the government will not advance the amendment without consensus among all involved parties.
Sanaullah also suggested that altering the NFC formula might not be necessary, proposing instead that defense expenditures could be excluded from the current resource-sharing framework. He noted that consultations on these issues are ongoing and form part of a wider constitutional and policy dialogue.
These comments come amid intensifying political debate over reports of a potential constitutional amendment ahead of Eid ul Adha, expected on May 27. Concerns have been raised that such changes could undermine the 18th Amendment, which was enacted in 2010 during the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led government. The 18th Amendment devolved significant powers to provinces in areas such as health, women’s development, social welfare, and local governance.
Despite calls for revising the 18th Amendment, the PPP has strongly opposed any modifications and vowed to resist attempts to alter it. Federal ministers have dismissed suggestions that the amendment is under threat. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that any constitutional amendment process would only proceed with broad agreement and stated there are currently no indications of a 28th Amendment.
This position aligns with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s remarks during the party’s parliamentary meeting on Thursday, where he denied any ongoing discussions about the 28th Amendment, though he left open the possibility of future talks.
