Pakistan's Ministry of Interior says it has written a formal request to the UK Government to seek legal action against ethnic party leader Altaf Hussain.

A ministry statement said the Pakistani government has sent a dossier on Hussain to UK authorities with allegations of inciting violence and disturbing law and order in Pakistan.

Hussain is a British national and the founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which has long dominated politics in the southern city of Karachi.

He delivered an anti-government speech last week by telephone to his supporters. Afterwards they ransacked three television stations, and one person was killed in ensuing violence.

Pakistani security forces have arrested dozens of MQM supporters and closed many of the party's offices.

The secular MQM party represents ethnic Mohajirs - those who fled to Pakistan from India during the 1947 partition. Its supporters have staged violent protests and clashed with political rivals and police in the past.

Hussain apologised for the violence last week, saying he was under mental stress during the speech.

The party leadership in Pakistan has since disassociated itself from Hussain, promising that the party would not be run from London any more. Hussain has lived in a self-imposed exile in the English capital for years.