Metro53 - ISLAMABAD: Rana Sanaullah has said that several key constitutional and administrative matters are under consideration as part of a possible 28th constitutional amendment, including a proposal to review the minimum voting age in the country.
Speaking during a television interview, the federal minister for political affairs said Pakistan had already passed 27 constitutional amendments and any future amendment package would therefore be referred to as the 28th amendment.
He stated that political consultations on a range of issues were currently under way, adding that no final decisions had yet been taken.
According to Rana Sanaullah, one of the proposals being discussed relates to revisiting the minimum age for voting. He remarked that if the minimum age for contesting elections could be fixed at 25 years, then the voting age could also be debated, as casting a vote was an important national responsibility.
However, he clarified that the matter remained only a proposal under discussion and had not been finalised.
The minister said other issues linked to constitutional reforms, including the NFC Award, population growth and water distribution, were also being discussed at various levels in an effort to build political consensus.
He further noted that some reforms could be implemented without constitutional amendments if there was unanimous political agreement, though certain matters would still require constitutional protection.
Commenting on the broader political system, Rana Sanaullah said that while some circles favoured a presidential system, the majority consensus remained in support of Pakistan’s parliamentary democratic structure.
He stressed that constitutional continuity and democratic stability were in the national interest and said no constitutional amendment could move forward without consultation among major political parties, including Pakistan Peoples Party.
Political analysts say constitutional amendments require broad political harmony and extensive consultation due to their direct impact on the country’s political and electoral framework.
