Constitutional Controversy: Pakistan's Voting Age Debate Intensifies
Following the passage of the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, political circles in Islamabad have been abuzz with speculation about potential future changes. Among various ideas being discussed, one proposal has generated particularly intense debate and criticism: the suggestion to raise Pakistan's voting age from 18 to 25 years. This potential constitutional amendment has triggered widespread concern as it directly impacts democratic participation and the political role of Pakistan's predominantly young electorate.
Political Leaders Voice Opposition
The issue gained significant political attention after Farhatullah Babar, a senior politician from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), publicly criticized the proposal. In a social media post, he questioned the motivation behind such discussions, writing: "Why this talk of raising the age of a voter to 25 years? The government must reject it outright if it is indeed behind it. Raising voters' age to 25 seems directed against a particular political leader, rightly or wrongly thought to be popular with the youth."
The debate even reached Kot Lakhpat Jail, where senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders detained under the 9 May violence cases expressed their opposition. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, and Omar Sarfaraz Cheema collectively wrote a letter publicly opposing the idea, speculating that "unnamed forces" were circulating it out of fear of the youth's political power.
Government Clarifications and Denials
As the debate gained momentum, comments from Rana Sanaullah sparked further concerns. When asked on a private television channel, he noted that while no official discussions were underway, some people believe that if a person cannot contest elections until age 25, there might be little reason for the voting age to remain at 18. He added that the idea is being debated, and if consensus emerges, it could potentially happen.
The public discourse became so intense that Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal felt compelled to address the matter directly. On Thursday, he posted a video on his social media account clarifying the government's position, stating categorically that "no such legislation [is] under consideration." He acknowledged emerging political discussion about raising the voting age but emphasized that no formal bill has been tabled. "We have confidence in our youth, and we can't even think of depriving them of the right to vote," he declared.
Historical Context and Demographic Impact
Despite the government's categorical denial, the intensity of the discussion has revived questions about how Pakistan's voting age was originally determined. Approximately twenty years ago, Pakistan took a different approach to voting rights. In 2002, President General Pervez Musharraf lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 through the Conduct of General Elections (Amendment) Order, 2002. This change was presented as part of wider electoral reforms designed to increase democratic participation by giving younger people voting rights.
To understand the potential impact of any change, it's essential to examine demographic data that quantifies how many young people would be directly affected. According to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) data from the 2024 general election:
- Total registered voters: approximately 128.58 million
- Young voters (ages 18-35): 56.86 million (44.22% of total electorate)
- Voters specifically aged 18-25: 24.66 million
These figures demonstrate that any proposed change to the voting age would affect not just a minor segment, but a substantial portion of Pakistan's electorate.
Election Data and Expert Analysis
The Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) has analyzed ECP's publicly available data to provide deeper insight into voter trends. Fafen published detailed reports using ECP data from January 22, 2025, and December 30, 2025, revealing that:
- The ECP added over 3.3 million new voters in 2025
- This represents approximately 9,113 new voters each day
- The growing electorate demonstrates constant demographic change
Against this historical backdrop, analysts believe the debate is essentially a non-starter. Ahmad Bilal Mehboob, president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat), explained: "Although Mr Ahsan Iqbal has strongly denied that any such proposal is under consideration, I feel the idea is a non-starter from the beginning. It will politically damage the government and further alienate the youth."
Mehboob further elaborated: "Voters in higher age brackets, except the 50+ cohort, also voted in greater percentages for the PTI compared to the PML-N and the PPP. So if the idea was to deprive the PTI of youth votes, it will not be accomplished." He added global context, noting: "It is contrary to the global trend, where voting age is being considered to be lowered to 15 years."
Mudassir Rizvi, Fafen spokesperson and election expert, echoed these sentiments, suggesting the discussion represents more about disinformation than merit. He told media: "It's more of a speculation than a debate. I would call it a classic case of disinformation apparently meant to provoke more than 20 million young men and women between 18 and 25 years of age." He welcomed the categorical denial by senior federal ministers and emphasized the need to trace the origin of this disinformation rather than discussing the merit of a proposition that, if it exists at all, has no substantive foundation.
