New Delhi: Cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has accepted the invitation given to him by Pakistan Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan for his oath-taking ceremony as Pakistan’s Prime Minister.
Sidhu was amongst the many prominent Indians to have been invited by Imran, whose party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won the recently concluded elections in the country.
The others who received an invitation for this occasion were fellow cricketers Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar, as well as Bollywood actor Aamir Khan. Imran’s party also asked their foreign office regarding the possibility of inviting Indian PM Narendra Modi for the event.
Of all the invited individuals, Sidhu is the first to have responded. And the former Indian cricketer has decided to attend the oath taking ceremony. He said, “I thank Mr Khan (Imran). I have a very personal relationship with him. There has been a relationship since 1983 when I first met him in Faridabad.”
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“He has risen from scratch in politics, he has exhibited great character. I see him as a ray of hope. Its a huge honour for me. It’s a personal invitation( for Imran Khan’s swearing-in) from him and not a political one. I respect the foreign policy of the Govt and the country, but this is a personal invitation(Imran Khan’s swearing in). I believe sportspersons and artists break barriers,” Sidhu said.
Meanwhile, in the latest statement by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said that ‘no foreign leader will be invited for Imran Khan’s swearing-in’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Imran Khan and congratulated him for his party emerging as the largest political party in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the recently conducted general elections. Prime Minister expressed hope that democracy will take deeper roots in Pakistan. Prime Minister also reiterated his vision of peace and development in the entire neighbourhood.