Cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday said the invitation he received from former cricketer and Pakistan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan is a personal invitation and not a political one.
Sidhu, also a minister in the Punjab government said the invitation from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader is a “huge honour” for him.
“It’s a huge honour for me. It’s a personal invitation (for Imran Khan's swearing in) from him and not a political one,” news agency PTI quoted Sidhu as saying.
“I respect the foreign policy of the Govt and the country, but this is a personal invitation,” he said, adding, “I believe sports persons and artists break barriers.
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“He (Imran Khan) has risen from scratch in politics, he has exhibited great character. I see him as a ray of hope,” said Sidhu.
Earlier, news agency PTI had reported that Sidhu had accepted Khan’s invitation.
According to reports, besides, Sidhu has invited former Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and actor Aamir Khan for his oath-taking ceremony.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry talking to media said the party has also asked the Foreign Office (FO) to inform it whether foreign heads of state, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, could be invited for August 11 event, the Dawn reported.
However, the response from the FO in the matter is still awaited.
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According to figures provided by the Election Commission of Pakistan, the PTI emerged as the single largest party with 115 seats after the Election Commission of Pakistan released the complete preliminary results for 270 of 272 National Assembly constituencies.
(With agency inputs)
