Cricketer-turned-politician and Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who accepted Pakistan’s Prime Minister-designate and former Pakistani cricket icon Imran Khan’s invitation for his swearing-in ceremony, faced a backlash from Shiv Sena on Sunday.
Expressing strong objection to Sidhu’s intent of attending Khan’s swearing-in ceremony, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that before visiting Pakistan, Sidhu should first visit the house of martyred major Kaustubh Rane.
Sidhu had said that he would be attending Khan’s swearing-in ceremony, shortly after Khan extended him a personal invite over a telephone conversation. As per the Punjab’s Information and Public Relations Department, Khan had also thanked Sidhu for praising him in a Press conference on August 2.
Meanwhile, Sidhu has informed the Union Home Ministry and Punjab Chief Minister office regarding his intention to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
He further revealed that he was in talks with former Indian skipper Kapil Dev, who has also been invited to the event.
It has been learnt that both have accepted Khan’s invitation and are awaiting Government’s clearance to go for the event.
However, another Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, who has also been extended invitation by Khan, has said that he will not attend Pakistan’s World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan’s oath-taking on August 18.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday confirmed that the Prime Minister-in-waiting will take oath at the President House in Islamabad on August 18, instead of August 11.