Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar firmly rejected claims on Monday that the government is contemplating raising the minimum voting age from 18 to 25. Responding to inquiries, he dismissed such reports as mere rumours, stating that no such proposals are currently under review.
The controversy arose following comments by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah, who mentioned that a proposal to increase the voting age was being considered in the context of the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment. He remarked that since candidates must be at least 25 years old to contest elections, the voting age should logically be aligned with that threshold, suggesting it be raised accordingly.
Presently, Pakistani election laws allow citizens aged 18 or older on January 1 of the year when electoral rolls are updated to register as voters, provided they reside in the relevant electoral area. This legal framework ensures young adults can participate in elections from the age of 18.
Reacting to the speculation, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan dismissed the idea as not a serious proposal. He highlighted that the United Nations classifies individuals between 15 and 29 years as youth and warned that denying 18-year-olds the right to vote would undermine democratic principles.
Similarly, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) representative Kamran Murtaza argued that if an 18-year-old is legally considered an adult capable of marriage, they should also retain voting rights. He emphasized that maturity to understand marriage implies sufficient understanding of the law.
These statements come amid ongoing rumours about a potential new constitutional amendment. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified last Saturday that any constitutional amendment would only move forward with consensus among coalition partners. He noted there are currently no indications of advancing the 28th Amendment and stressed the importance of inclusive dialogue, citing past consensus models from 2009 as examples to follow.
Tarar’s position aligns with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s recent remarks denying any immediate discussions on the 28th Amendment. Speaking at a PPP parliamentary party meeting on Thursday, Bilawal stated that no talks had taken place yet, though he left open the possibility of future developments.
Additionally, State Minister for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik dismissed suggestions that the 28th Amendment would revoke the existing voting age of 18, reinforcing the government’s stance against altering this fundamental right at present.
