whoever puts it forward has put forward a racist statement

It was put forward by eminent Pakistani people well known as anti-racists and as defenders of their community against bigotry.
So perhaps that is your mistake.
It is not racist as you believe.

Either way, it is not unreasonable or racist to assume such people know what they are talking about.
As you would believe a specialist's diagnosis.
As you would believe a meteorologist's weather forecast.
It would not make you a meteorologist or a doctor.
I am not a racist.
Allibhai-Brown, Saffiq and Ahmed are not racists.
I do not believe their statements were racist.
I see no reason not to believe them.