Sidhu confirms visit to Pakistan for Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony

Former Indian opening batsman feels ‘honoured’ after being invited by PTI chairman

KARACHI: Former Indian opening batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu has accepted invitation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan for his oath-taking ceremony as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Khan’s party emerged as the single largest in the National Assembly in the 2018 General Elections held on July 25 and is expected to be sworn in as the next Premier on August 11.

Sidhu, who represented India in 51 Tests and 136 ODIs where he scored more than 7,000 runs with the help of 15 centuries and 48 fifties, is currently a cabinet minister in the state of Punjab.

As per NDTV, Sidhu said he is honoured after being invited by Khan for the ceremony.

"It is (a) great honour, I accept the invitation. Men of genius are admired, men of power are feared, but men of character are trusted. Khan Sahab is a man of character. He can be trusted. Sportsmen build bridges, break barriers and unite people."

Khan is primarily famous for his role as the captain of the 1992 World Cup winning Pakistan cricket team, which was country’s first major trophy in the sport.

Earlier former Indian cricketers were 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.

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.