Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, has strongly rejected reports suggesting that the minimum voting age is being increased from 18 to 25 years, calling them baseless, false, and part of a deliberate misleading campaign. He clarified that the government is neither considering any such proposal nor is there any legislation on this matter under discussion in Parliament.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Ahsan Iqbal said that several citizens had asked him about the alleged proposal, making it necessary to provide clarification. He stated unequivocally that there is no plan to raise the voting age, nor does the government intend to take any such action.
The federal minister emphasized that the government has full confidence in Pakistan’s youth and that there is no question of limiting their constitutional right to vote. He stated that young people are a valuable asset of the country and fully capable of making informed and responsible decisions about Pakistan’s future.
Ahsan Iqbal accused the opposition of deliberately spreading false information to create unnecessary controversy for political purposes and to mislead the public. He added that such false reports are intended to create unrest among the youth and generate a negative atmosphere against the government.
He further clarified, “Neither in any joint parliamentary session nor in any other forum is legislation to raise the voting age under consideration.”
According to Ahsan Iqbal, the government considers the youth active partners in national development and is committed to safeguarding their rights.
It is worth noting that in recent days, some media reports and social media posts had claimed that the government was considering raising the minimum voting age to 25, which had caused concern in political and public circles. Following the federal minister’s clarification, these reports have been denied.
