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Navjot Singh Sidhu applies for govt permission to visit Pakistan

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu visited the Pakistan High Commission on Monday to discuss formalities ahead of his visit to the neighbouring country to attend Imran Khan’s oath taking ceremony.

Navjot Singh Sidhu applies for govt permission to visit Pakistan

(Photo: SNS)

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu visited the Pakistan High Commission on Monday to discuss formalities ahead of his visit to the neighbouring country to attend Imran Khan’s oath taking ceremony.

Khan, the PM designate of Pakistan and chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is set to take oath of office on 18 August. He has invited Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Navjot Sidhu for the swearing-in ceremony.

“There are some formalities for which I am here. I have applied for govt permission. Everything depends on India govt’s permission now,” Sidhu said while leaving the Pakistan High Commission.

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Sidhu, a minister in the Punjab government, had earlier hailed Khan’s victory in the Pakistan general elections calling him “a man of character”.

He was the first to accept an earlier invitation extended by the PTI.

“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, unite people,” said the 54-year-old Congress MLA from Amritsar East.

Neither Gavaskar nor Dev have yet clarified whether they would be travelling to Pakistan to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Imran Khan’s party emerged as the single largest with 116 seats in the 25 July election. Following a round of electoral negotiations and mathematics, its tally increased to 158. PTI is still 14 short of simple majority of 172 in the house of 342.

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