MQ-PM suspends senator Ateeq over vote for PML-N

Naimat Khan

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Monday suspended basic membership of Senator Mian Ateeq Ahmed Shaikh after he failed to convince party leadership over his decision to vote for the PML-N’s bill in upper house of the parliament.

While talking to The Frontier Post, spokesman MQM-P, Ameenaul Haq, said that party has suspended basic membership of Mian Ateeq as part of the disciplinary action.

“Senator Ateeq violated party policy as we had decided to support the Pakistan people’s Party,” Farooq Sattar told media after the meeting, adding that his party stands by Aitzaz Ahsan whereas Mian Ateeq had admitted his mistake.

Senator Ateeq gave his vote in support of the amendment in the Political Parties Order 2002. The successful passage of the bill has provided legal justification for former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to head the Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz.

A consultative party meeting on the issue was convened by MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar, seeking clarification from the lawmaker about his support to the PML-N.

Meanwhile, Senator Ateeq, told media that the policies of Pakistan Peoples’ Party were not clear to him on the issue. He added that Sattar did not inform him of his membership suspension during the party’s meeting. He added that Sattar or the party had no role in his decision to vote for the bill.

MQM-P Chief Farooq Sattar had earlier expressed ignorance over the matter saying that disciplinary measures will be taken against those who violated party policy. Mian Ateeq also played down the matter saying that he should not be portrayed as a villain for the vote.

Two others senators, Tahir Mashadi and Barrister Saif, who had not voted have also been issued show-cause notices as they violated party policy. Farooq Sattar said that the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique had asked for their votes, but they maintained that they have taken a principle stance on the issue.

According to reports the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Saturday had asked Mian Ateeq Ahmad Shaikh for clarification about his support for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Senate vote.