The latest Senate party position has reshaped the balance of power in Pakistan’s Upper House.
Following the recent Senate elections, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has emerged as the leading force with 26 members. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) now holds the second-largest presence with 22 seats. One additional seat, previously occupied by Sania Nishtar, is vacant but expected to return to PTI.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) comes in third with 20 senators. The Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) maintains four seats, while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) holds three. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) commands seven members, making it a significant player in the new Senate party position. Other parties include the Awami National Party (ANP) with three, the National Party and PML-Q with one seat each, and the Sunni Ittehad Council and Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen with one senator each.
The government alliance currently enjoys the support of five independent members. The opposition bloc is backed by one independent senator. Despite holding a majority with 60 seats in the 96-member chamber, the ruling coalition falls short of the 64 needed for a two-thirds majority.
This gap leaves the government dependent on additional support to pass constitutional amendments or critical legislation. The JUI-F, under Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is considered a kingmaker in this setup. Without its cooperation, the ruling bloc cannot secure a supermajority.
Sources indicate that the government may still be able to bridge this gap. Efforts are underway to gain backing from the ANP and independent senators to strengthen the coalition’s numbers and stabilize the Senate party position.
