ISLAMABAD – The government is preparing to table the 27th Constitutional Amendment for approval in both the Senate and the National Assembly, requiring a two-thirds majority in each house — 64 votes in the Senate and 224 in the National Assembly.
In the 96-member Senate, the ruling coalition, led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and supported by the PML-N, MQM, ANP, National Party, PML-Q, and six independents, holds 65 votes, surpassing the required threshold. The opposition includes PTI with 22 members, JUI-F with seven, and smaller parties such as MWM and SIC, totaling 31 senators.
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In the National Assembly, which currently has 326 active members, the ruling coalition enjoys the support of 237 lawmakers. The PML-N holds 125 seats, PPP 74, MQM 22, PML-Q five, and IPP four, while other smaller parties and independents also back the government. The opposition benches have 89 members, including 75 independents and representatives from JUI-F, SIC, MWM, BNP-Mengal, and PkMAP.
Given these numbers, the government appears well-positioned to secure the required majority to pass the amendment. Political analysts, however, note that opposition criticism and public scrutiny could still influence the legislative process.
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