ISLAMABAD: The 27th Constitutional Amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate to pass, meaning 224 votes in the National Assembly and 64 in the Senate are needed.

According to the current Senate composition, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is the largest party on government benches with 26 senators. Other government-aligned parties include Pakistan Muslim League-N (20), Balochistan Awami Party (4), MQM-Pakistan (3), National Party (1), and Pakistan Muslim League-Q (1).

Additionally, three independent senators—Abdul Karim, Abdul Qadir, and Mohsin Naqvi—support the government. Three other senators, Anwarul Haq Kakar, Asad Qasim, and Faisal Vawda, are not aligned with either the government or opposition but vote in favor of the government, bringing total government support in the Senate to 61 votes.

On the opposition benches, independent Senator Naseema Ehsan, along with three ANP senators, supported the 26th Amendment, which could potentially increase government-backed votes to 65.

The opposition includes 14 PTI senators, six PTI-supported independents (one yet to take oath), seven JUI-P members, one member of Majlis Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen, and one from Sunni Ittehad Council. In total, around 30 senators on the opposition benches are likely to oppose the amendment.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet has already approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarrar stated that the amendment will be presented in the Senate today.