WASHINGTON, July 9: PML-N leader and former federal minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that the PML-N accepts the rights of Punjabi, Sindhi, Siraiki, Pushto and Balochi languages and would support giving them national languages status.

In a response to a question at the 24th annual Convention of the Sindhi Association of North America in Dallas, Texas, he said his party would include this demand in its programme.

In reply to another question, he said the Kalabagh dam would not be built because Sindh didn’t want it.

He made a categorical statement that any project, however, important it may be, should not be undertaken if it was harmful for the federation in any way.

Responding to a question on coalition with the MQM, Mr Iqbal said that the PML-N stood by the declaration made at the All Parties’ Conference held in London that said that no political party should enter into a coalition with the MQM until a probe is held in the May 12 Karachi massacre. He said if the MQM was included in the federal cabinet his party may part ways with the PPP.

Earlier speaking at the main session of the convention, the PML-N Information Secretary paid rich tribute to Justice Rana Bhagwandas and said he should be declared Mahatma of justice. He said his party had quit the government only on the issue of the restoration of judiciary and it wanted the coalition to fulfil its promise on the issue as soon as possible.

Mr Iqbal also called for the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf and said that the coalition had the number of votes in parliament to do so. He said any delay in restoration of deposed judges and impeachment of Mr Musharraf would push the country into a deeper and more dangerous crisis.