ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/LAHORE: The ruling coalition in Pakistan has solidified its majority in the Senate following extensive elections held across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab assemblies, marking a significant shift in the legislative landscape.

In the upper house, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerged as the largest party with 26 seats, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) with 20 seats. Independent candidates hold six seats, while the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and others, including MQM and ANP, have secured seats as well. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), maintaining 16 seats, is supported by six independents, bringing its total to 22.

The elections, delayed earlier due to controversies over reserved seats, concluded with the victory of PTI candidates in KP and Punjab, where a total of 144 and 345 votes respectively were cast in assemblies comprising 145 and 371 members. PTI’s Murad Saeed led the KP Senate race with 26 votes, followed by Faisal Javed and Noorul Haq Qadri. In Punjab, Hafiz Abdul Kareem of PMLN secured the seat with 243 votes against opposition candidate Mehr Abdul Sattar.

The elections also revealed internal party disputes within PTI, with allegations of list manipulation and concealment of candidate names from party founder PTI, sparking controversy and internal discord.

With these results, the ruling alliance now commands a commanding majority in the Senate, poised to influence legislative proceedings with a simple majority for ordinary bills and a two-thirds majority for constitutional changes.