Former Indian cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu said that he had hope that his friend Imran Khan’s ascension to the prime minister’s post will be good for Pakistan-India peace process, PTI reported. He was seen donning a blue suit and a pink turban, at Khan’s oath taking ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (the President House) in Islamabad.
Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived at the ceremony and had a brief chat with Sidhu. “A new morning is here in Pakistan with a new government which can change the destiny of the country,” said Sidhu.
Earlier, while talking to reporters after his arrival to Pakistan, Sidhu said he had come to the country “with a message of love” to become a part of Khan’s happiness.
He said he was saddened by the demise of former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who he recalled had started the friendship bus service between the two countries. He said he had brought a Kashmiri shawl as a gift for the PM-in-waiting.
According to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf Senator Faisal Javed, besides Sidhu, India’s former cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev had been invited.
Khan also invited Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Rameez Raja, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Moin Khan and Aaqib Javed who had played the 1992 Cup final at Melbourne, Australia.
Senior BJP Leader Subramaniam Swamy slammed former cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday for his plan to travel to Pakistan to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM-in-waiting Imran Khan. Swamy to news agency ANI said, “This visit would be a big blow to his political career, people will call it treachery and if he is mentally sound and stable he should not do the same.”
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Central Additional Information Faisal Javed Khan said that the oath-taking will take place on August 18. A similar announcement regarding inviting Indian cricketers and celebrities to the ceremony had earlier been made by PTI Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry. However, it was later said that Khan had opted for an austere ceremony and decided against inviting foreign dignitaries and celebrities to the planned oath-taking.
