Proposal to raise voting age to 25 finds few takers
• Rana Sanaullah hints move ‘under discussion’ for 28th Amendment • Potential change seen as ‘exclusion of 23.7pc electorate or 30m youth’ • Legal expert warns of possible breach of international suffrage commitments • PTI calls it ‘frantic and undemocratic’ political manoeuvre ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Opposition and civil society voices have roundly criticised a proposal, floated an aide to the PM, to raise the minimum voting age from 18 to 25, calling it an undemocratic and panicked attempt to disenfranchise millions of young voters. The backlash followed comments by Rana Sanaullah, adviser to the prime minister on political and public affairs, made during a recent appearance on Geo News where he confirmed that a proposal to raise the voting age was being discussed as part of the potential 28th Constitutional Amendment. He said the proposal was aimed at aligning the voting age with the minimum age required to contest elections, which is also 25. “If an individual cannot contest an election before the age of 25, then either the age to contest elections should be reduced to 18, or the voting age should be increased,” he said, framing the issue as one of maturity. “Twenty-five is considered the age at which an individual attains the maturity required to represent an organisation,” Mr Sanaullah said. “Representation and casting a vote are equal responsibilities.” However, he cautioned against interpreting the discussion as an ‘official policy position’. “It is under discussion, but that does not mean we are going to implement it, or that my party supports it,” he added. “It is only a discussion.” ‘Old enough to fight, old enough to vote’ While swiftly condemning the proposal, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram described it as a “masterpiece of political panic masquerading as profound constitutional wisdom”. “How extraordinarily convenient that the same ruling elite which happily recruits 18-year-olds...
Original source: Dawn Pakistan