KARACHI, Oct 17: The chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has condemned the arrest of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) leaders in Hyderabad.

Referring to the reported arrest of JSQM president Basheer Khan Qureshi, and vice-president, Dr Niaz Kalani, he said that instead of developing national consensus at a time when the country was passing through a crucial moment, the establishment was using state power to suppress the voice of the people of Sindh.

In a statement from London, Mr Altaf said that the sons of Sindh, who were peacefully struggling for their rights, were being ‘unlawfully’ arrested which, he said, was against the interest of the country. He demanded of the government to immediately release the JSQM leaders.

He observed that Pakistan was going through a vital phase of its history because of the Afghanistan crisis and the fast- deteriorating situation in Kashmir.

“The need of the hour is to build national consensus and draw a line of action to challenge the dangers that the country is facing,” the Muttahida chief said, adding that the establishment was bent upon disseminating anarchy and endangering the country further.