Age of President in the 1973 Constitution: Article 41 Explained
What exactly does the 1973 Constitution say about the President’s age? This guide walks through Article 41(2) clause by clause — the 45-year rule, the Muslim requirement, the National Assembly qualification — plus how the Election Commission and Supreme Court have interpreted it.
Quick answer: Article 41(2) of the 1973 Constitution states: “A person shall not be qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim of not less than forty-five years of age and is qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly.” So the age of the President must be 45 or above — no upper limit exists. The Supreme Court has confirmed the President need only meet Article 62’s qualifications (not Article 63’s disqualifications).
In this guide
The Constitutional Text
Article 41 deals with “The President”. Its clause (2) — the qualifications clause — reads in full:
“A person shall not be qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim of not less than forty-five years of age and is qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly.”
Three conditions, one sentence. Each carries weight.
Clause-by-Clause Meaning
- “a Muslim”: the presidency is constitutionally reserved for a Muslim citizen — reflecting the Islamic Republic’s character.
- “not less than forty-five years of age”: the candidate must have turned 45 by the date of election. This is the highest minimum age for any elected office in Pakistan.
- “qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly”: the candidate must meet Article 62’s qualifications — citizen, 25+, of good character, sagacious, righteous, non-profligate, honest and ameen, with no disqualifying conviction.
How ECP and the Courts Read It
In 2007, the Election Commission clarified that Article 41(2) requires only the Article 62 qualifications — and amended the Presidential Election Rules to match. The Supreme Court (Pakistan Lawyers Forum v. Federation, 2005, following Qazi Hussain Ahmed v. Musharraf, 2002) held that the President is “only required to be qualified to be a member of Parliament as provided by Article 62” and is not hit by Article 63’s disqualifications. In plain terms: the age and faith bars in Article 41(2) stand as written, and the rest of the test is Article 62.
45 vs Other Offices
- President: 45 (Article 41)
- Senator: 30 (Article 62)
- MNA / MPA / Prime Minister: 25 (Articles 62, 91)
For the full picture, see our minimum age for President pillar, minimum age for Prime Minister, and removal under Article 47.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the age requirement for President under the 1973 Constitution?
Not less than 45 years of age, per Article 41(2) — plus being a Muslim and qualified for National Assembly membership.
Is there a maximum age for the President of Pakistan?
No. The Constitution sets only the 45-year minimum.
Which article of the constitution is about the President’s age?
Article 41(2) — the qualifications clause for election as President.
Can a non-Muslim become President of Pakistan?
No. Article 41(2) requires the President to be a Muslim.
 clause-by-clause — the 45-year rule, Muslim requirement, and how ECP and courts interpret it.){kind=link}