PTI invites former Indian cricketers to oath-taking ceremony

Fawad Chaudhry says the party has invited former Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Navjot Singh Sidhu

ISLAMABAD: Former Indian cricketers have been invited by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) to participate in Imran Khan’s oath taking ceremony as prime minister, according to PTI Spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry.

While speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, Chaudhry said the party has invited former Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Navjot Singh Sidhu to the ceremony. The party’s spokesperson also claimed to have invited Indian actors including Amir Khan. Chaudhry said the party had approached the Foreign Office regarding inviting foreign dignitaries.



PTI Chairman Imran Khan is reportedly set to take oath as prime minister on August 11. In the days after the election, Khan has received congratulations from several foreign leaders and representatives. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call on Tuesday congratulated Khan on his election victory and heralded a new era in Pak-Turk relations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Khan on Monday to congratulate him, according to a statement issued by the party’s media cell.  According to the statement, the most significant aspect of the conversation was Modi’s unambiguous willingness to improve his country’s ties with Pakistan.

“India desires progressive relations with Pakistan”, the Indian PM was quoted as saying.



Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoost said in a letter written to the PTI chief, “People of Pakistan have demonstrated their desire to achieve progress and development by turning up in large numbers and using their right of franchise in the July 25 polls.” The Iranian envoy prayed for the welfare and progress of Pakistanis as well as good health and the further success of Imran Khan in the letter.

The ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Islamabad Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki met Khan at his residence in Banni Gala on July 27. He conveyed a message of congratulations from King Salman bin Abdul Aziz on the peaceful culmination of the electoral process according to the PTI’s media cell.