With 207 seats, six party alliance short of two-thirds majority in National Assembly

Despite concerted efforts, the recently formed six-party coalition was unable to secure a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and managed to achieve 207 numbers.

During the recently held February 8 election, not a single party, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), were able to secure a simple majority in the National Assembly.

In this alliance, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML) and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) included.

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A two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament requires the support of about 224 MNAs. 169 votes are the magic number to form a government in the 336-member house, and about 224 votes are needed for a two-thirds majority.

With 108 members, the PML-N has become the largest political party in parliament after the addition of 20 reserved seats for women and four for minorities.

On the other hand, the PPP has gathered 68 members in the National Assembly, including 12 reserved seats for minorities and two for women, in addition to its 54 elected members.

The combined strength of the PML-N and PPP MNAs equals 169, which is a critical number for government formation given that both parties have 168 members in total.