ISLAMABAD: Despite concerted efforts, the six-party alliance in Pakistan appears to be falling short of securing a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, which requires a total of 224 seats out of 336.
The political landscape in Pakistan entered a state of uncertainty following the February 8 polls, as none of the major parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) affiliated candidates, managed to secure a simple majority.
The PML-N, with 108 members, emerged as the largest parliamentary party, and the PPP secured 54 seats. Forming a coalition government, the two parties, along with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), reached a total strength of 168 members in the National Assembly.
While the MQM-P has 22 members, the PML-Q has five. Additionally, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) holds eight seats, and the IPP has three members in the assembly.
Out of the 99 independent candidates who secured seats, 81 PTI-backed candidates joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), while eight remained independent. Other parties, including Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan (MWM), BAP, Balochistan National Party (BNP), National Party, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, and Pakistan Muslim League-Zia, have one seat each in the lower house. Despite ongoing negotiations and alliances, the coalition appears to be short of the required two-thirds majority for the formation of a government in Pakistan.
