No regrets for voting in favour of Election Bill 2017: MQM senator

ISLAMABAD: Muttahidda Quomi Movement (MQM) Senator Mian Attique Sheikh on Monday said that he has no remorse for casting his vote in Senate in favour of Election Bill 2017 last week.

Talking to APP, he said he had voted in favour of an amendment in Political Parties Act (Election Bill 2017). He said Parliamentary and Deputy Parliamentary leaders in Senate did not convey party policy to MQM Senators regarding voting in favour or against Election Bill 2017. However, MQM leadership could not be held responsible for the confusion.

He said Parliamentary leader in Senate Tahir Hussein Mashhadi and his Deputy Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif used to convey party policy to fellow Senators of the party prior to voting of any Bill or other matter. Both leaders of MQM did not issue any specific instructions for casting votes against the Election Bill 2017. 

Commenting on Opposition leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan's proposed amendment in Political Parties Act, he said Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan should have taken into confidence other opposition members regarding his amendments. He said he was sincere with his party and disciplinary action against him by MQM was beyond his comprehension.

Pakistan People’s Party has various groups in Senate. Three members of PPP remained absent during voting in the Senate.