Govt Clarifies Rumours About Increasing Voting Age

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday rejected reports suggesting the government plans to raise the minimum voting age from 18 to 25, calling them baseless and part of a disinformation campaign.

In a post on his X account, Iqbal said citizens had asked about the alleged proposal. He clarified that the government has not reviewed any plan, nor is it introducing legislation to change the voting age.

Iqbal emphasized that the government trusts Pakistan’s youth and has no intention of restricting their constitutional right to vote. He accused the opposition of spreading false narratives to create controversy and mislead the public for political gain.

“No proposal is under consideration, and no legislation is being discussed in any joint session of Parliament to raise the voting age,” he stated. Iqbal described young Pakistanis as a national asset capable of making informed decisions about the country’s future.

The clarification comes after reports emerged over the past few days suggesting that the government was considering increasing the voting age.