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ISLAMABAD:
As political consultations intensify on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, the party composition of the Senate has become more important, revealing the delicate arithmetic that will determine the fate of the bill.
According to official data, any constitutional amendment requires at least 64 votes among the 96 members of the upper house to be adopted.
The ruling coalition currently holds a numerical lead, led by the PPP with 26 seats, the largest bloc in the Senate. The PML-N follows with 20 seats, constituting the core of the government’s legislative force.
Among the coalition partners, the BAP holds four seats, while the MQM-P has three members. The NP and PML-Q each occupy one seat.
Several independent senators also sit on the government benches, including Abdul Karim, Abdul Qadir, Mohsin Naqvi, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, Asad Qasim and Faisal Vawda, whose votes could prove decisive in tight divisions.
On the opposition benches, the PTI holds the largest contingent with 14 senators, followed by the ANP with three. An independent senator, Naseema Ehsan, also aligns with the opposition, alongside six independents supported by the PTI.
A newly elected PTI senator is expected to take oath soon, while Murad Saeed, another PTI-backed independent, is yet to take oath.
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam maintains a significant presence on the opposition benches with seven senators, while the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen and the Sunni Ittehad Council each have one seat.
