ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday dismissed reports suggesting that the government was considering a proposal to raise the minimum voting age from 18 to 25.
“Why should we comment on rumours?… No such proposals are under our consideration,” Tarar said while responding to a question.
The debate emerged after Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah recently commented that a proposal to increase the voting age was currently under consideration during discussions related to the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment.
“A person cannot contest an election until the age of 25, then […] if that is the case, the age for contesting elections should also be reduced to 18,” he said while speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Jirga’.
Under the prevailing election laws, a Pakistani citizen can be enrolled as a voter if they are at least 18 years of age on January 1 of the year in which electoral rolls are prepared or revised.
It is also required that the person is, or is deemed to be, a resident of the relevant electoral area in order to be registered as a voter there.
Earlier on Monday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, while reacting to the reports, said he did not believe the matter was a “serious proposal”.
“According to the United Nations, people between the ages of 15 and 29 are considered youth,” he told reporters in Parliament House, warning that depriving 18-year-olds of the right to vote would affect the democratic process.
Separately, JUIF Senator Kamran Murtaza said an 18-year-old should retain the right to vote if they are legally recognised as adults.
“If an 18-year-old person can get married, then they should also have the right to vote,” he said, adding that a person mature enough to understand marriage could also understand the law.
The lawmakers’ statements come amid rumours abound about another constitutional amendment.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar last Saturday said that any constitutional amendment process will only proceed with consensus, adding there were currently no signs of a 28th Amendment.
“We are a coalition government; how can we proceed with constitutional amendments without consultation?” he said during a media interaction in Lahore. Tarar’s clarification aligns with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s denial of any immediate talks on a proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment. “No talks have taken place yet on the 28th Amendment; [but] I do not know about tomorrow,” he said while addressing the PPP’s parliamentary party meeting on Thursday.
Meanwhile, opposition members staged a walkout from the Monday’s proceedings of the National Assembly while demanding relief for the imprisoned PTI founder.
The Leader of the Opposition the National Assembly, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, while speaking on the floor of the House on Friday, had given a three-day deadline to the government to allow meetings with Imran Khan and shift him to a hospital of his choice. Otherwise, he stated, the opposition would not allow the National Assembly to function by disrupting its proceedings.
However, the opposition members fell short of total disruption of proceedings as the House passed two bills besides completing the Question Hour. Nonetheless, they continued raising slogans in support of the PTI founder and against the government. A PTI-supported lawmaker pointed out the lack of quorum during the reading of a bill. Soon after, the opposition members walked out of the House. Upon counting, the House was found to be in order.
Earlier, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, while speaking briefly, said the government did not heed his soft warning to allow meetings with Imran Khan and shift him to a hospital of his choice. Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah did not allow him to speak further in order to take up the Question Hour.
The House passed the Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) Amendment Bill, 2026 and the Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) Amendment Bill, 2026.
The Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) Amendment Bill, 2026 provides for a balance between the rights of a financial institution and the protection of legitimate interests of borrowers and occupants, promoting confidence in secure lending, reducing non-performing loans, and strengthening the overall credit environment in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Airport Authority Amendment Bill, 2026, which amends the PAA Act, 2023, provides for the appointment of the PAA director general from the private sector as well. An amendment in Section 10 of the PAA Act, 2023 states that the prime minister may, in the prescribed manner, appoint an officer from the service of the Authority or a private sector expert as the director general of the PAA if he fulfills the minimum qualifications and experience as prescribed in the rules. The term of office of the PAA DG shall be three years initially, extendable by the prime minister for a maximum tenure of two years.
Another amendment in Section 17A of the PAA Act, 2023 relates to conflict of interest. It states that the director general or any other officer of the Authority shall not own, or be a shareholder, director, partner, or an employee of, any aviation undertaking, business, or contractor of the Authority.
