KARACHI: A group of Sindhi intellectuals on Monday held a protest demonstration outside the British Deputy High Commission at Clifton against MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s reported statement demanding a division of Sindh on ethnic lines; termed the clarification of MQM leaders ‘insufficient’ and vowed to continue a peaceful protest against ‘the party undermining the solidarity’ of Pakistan and Sindh.

They said Mr Hussain’s speeches might disturb the ‘peace and harmony in Sindh’ and urged the British government to take ‘legal action’ against its citizen.

The Sindhi Writers and Thinkers Forum (SWTF), including writers, columnists, poets and intellectuals such as Prof Mushtaq Mirani, Jami Chandio, Dastgir Bhatti and Akash Ansari and leaders of nationalist groups such as Asif Baladi of the Jeay Sindh Mahaz and Hareef Chandio of the Awami Jamhori Party, led a march from Do Talwar to the office of the deputy high commissioner, where they presented a memorandum.

Later talking to the media, Dastgir Bhatti said they told the diplomat that Altaf Hussain was a British citizen who was interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan and was speaking against the solidarity of the country and Sindh. “We consider that the UK government is involved in it,” said Mr Bhatti, adding that it was for this reason that the government had given him permission to speak against Sindh.

Poet Akash Ansari said the diplomat assured them that the UK government had nothing to do with whatever Mr Hussain had stated. He said the diplomat also promised that he would convey their concerns to the British government.

Writer Jami Chandio said they considered the explanation of MQM leaders about Altaf Hussain’s statement as ‘insufficient’.

Referring to a meeting between MQM leaders and Qaumi Awami Tehreek chief Ayaz Latif Palijo in Hyderabad on Sunday night, Mr Chandio said Mr Palijo should have sought an explanation in writing from the MQM leaders and both party leaders should have held a joint press conference to that effect.

Mr Jami said the MQM leaders should have ‘formally’ withdrawn Altaf Hussain’s speech. He said that on the one hand the MQM leaders met Mr Palijo, but on the other hand, Altaf Hussain repeated his demand for dividing Sindh.

He suggested that the ‘peaceful’ protest they staged should continue against the ‘illegitimate demand’ of the MQM chief.

The Sindhi writers also distributed copies of the memorandum to the media on the occasion.

Expressing their concern on the recent statement of Altaf Hussain, the SWTF said: “The venomous speech is a blatant assault on sovereignty of Sindh and Pakistan.” They said Altaf Hussain had “threatened division of Sindh and Pakistan in open words. This is not the first time that this British citizen has issued such statements. Mr Hussain has continuously been issuing similar statements/ speeches and has been expressing his disrespect for Sindh and Pakistan.”