Sidhu arrives in Pakistan to attend Imran Khan’s swearing-in ceremony

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Attari/Lahore August 17

Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday arrived here to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his friend Imran Khan as Pakistan’s prime minister.

Wearing a blue suit and a pink turban, Sidhu arrived in Lahore via the Wagah border from where he will travel to Islamabad to attend Khan’s oath-taking ceremony scheduled for tomorrow.

With a message of peace and prosperity between India and Pakistan, Sidhu had on Friday afternoon crossed the Attari-Wagah border.

Amidst criticism for skipping the funeral of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was supposed to be his mentor in politics, Sidhu proceeded towards Lahore to take a flight to Islamabad for the oath-taking ceremony of prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan.

Khan, a former Pakistan cricket team captain, is expected to be sworn in as prime minister on August 18, after his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) swept the July 25 general elections.

After getting mandatory clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs, Sidhu was overwhelmed to receive a call from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

“Being a law abiding citizen I am very disciplined when it comes to the norms of a nation. I waited for clearance of my Pakistan visit. I was surprised when madam Sushma called me personally to intimate that the requisite clearance has been granted,” he said.   

Before crossing over to Wagah, Sidhu expressed his feeling in his one liner, “Hindustan jive te Pakistan jive, hasda wasda eh sara jahan jive........te aan baan shaan naal.....pyar aman te khushhali ban ke mera yaar Imran Khan jive.”

Sidhu has got arranged a special ‘Pashmina shawl’ for Imran Khan as a gift.

He said that he was excited to meet his dear friend with whom he shared relationship for the past 35 years.

“Since I am representing India, this gesture is on behalf of India for Imran. I am fortunate to have a chance to be a conduit between both India and Pakistan to ease the tension and will try to work towards strengthening the trade and cultural ties between the two nations,” he said.

Sidhu has got 15-day visa for Lahore and Ismalabad. Sources revealed that he will be meeting Khan tonight.

However, before leaving Sidhu also offered his condolences on Vajpayee’s death.

“I had spiritual relations with Vajpayee sahib. Cutting across party lines, there is respect for this wonderful statesman. He elevated the BJP party from mere two seats to the majority. His demise is an irreparable loss for all of us. Vajpayee sahib will be remembered as an institution,” he said. — With PTI