The government has been making efforts to ensure a two-thirds majority or the required number of votes to pass the 26th constitutional amendment. But how many votes are needed to pass the intended legislation, which the opposition opposes?

The government aims to introduce the “constitutional package” —that aims to fix the chief justice of Pakistan’s tenure at three years—which requires a two-thirds majority in the lower house of Parliament, amounting to 224 votes out of a total of 336 members.

There are 312 members present in the National Assembly, with 24 seats—including those reserved for women and minorities—either disputed or vacant, pending notification.

The government’s strength stands at 213 members, comprising 111 from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, 68 from the Pakistan Peoples Party, 22 from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, five from the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, four from the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party, and one each from the PML-Zia, National Party, and Balochistan Awami Party.

The opposition consists of 101 members, which includes 80 from the Sunni Ittehad Council, six independent members, and eight from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F. Additionally, there is one member each from the Balochistan National Party, the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, and the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.

In recent developments, the PPP secured victory in the Rahim Yar Khan by-election. If the JUI-F is included, the government’s support could rise to 222 members, meaning they would only need to persuade two independent members to join their ranks.

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Sources had indicated on Friday that the ruling coalition had the necessary support to pass the amendment, noting that four members affiliated with the PTI would vote in favour of the proposed changes.

Sources added that two members from Central Punjab may also vote in favour of the constitutional amendment; both belong to the Sunni Ittehad Council. Additionally, one member each from the former erstwhile FATA and South Punjab is expected to participate in the voting.

Although sitting as independent members on the opposition benches, such representatives are anticipated to support the initiative.