ISLAMABAD: In the 342 member National Assembly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) enjoys the majority with 218 Members National Assembly (MNAs) including its coalition partners; and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to get the support of more than 200 members if he faces no-confidence motion. 

The aforementioned movement against the premier needs at least the votes of 175 MNAs to get successful. There are 189 members of PML-N in the National Assembly, 13 of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), 5 of Pakistan Muslim League (Functional), 3 of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), 2 of National Peoples Party, 1 member of Pakistan Muslim League (Zia) and National Party, and four independent members which take PML-N’s tally to 218.

On the other hand, 88 members of opposition seem united against PM including 47 MNAs of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Furthermore, it is before time to comment on the alliances of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan National Party, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) and one independent member. Opposition fails to develop consensus over PM’s resignation.

According to the PML-N sources, if Nawaz Sharif faces no-confidence motion, he will be supported by more than 240 members.

On the contrary, President Awami Muslim League (AML) Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has claimed that there is a forward block of 44 members in PML-N, and Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa has asserted that the forward block includes 92 MNAs of PML-N.—NNI