Sidhu hugs Pakistan Army chief
Punjab minister and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu attending the oath-taking ceremony of Pakistan PM Imran Khan, has done more harm than good to him. Sidhu courted controversy after he hugged Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and later sat next to President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) Masood Khan during the swearing-in.
Imran Khan was sworn-in as Pakistan's 22nd prime minister today. The cricketer-turned-politician was administered the oath by President Mamnoon Hussain at a simple function attended by his partymen and few close friends.
At the event, Sidhu was seated next to Masood Khan instead of being positioned with other foreign dignitaries at the Aiwan-e-Sadr Hall of President's House.
The Congress leader was also seen hugging Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the President House prior to oath taking ceremony. They were also spotted talking to each other, and gleeing.
WATCH VIDEO: Sidhu hugs Pakistan Army chief, sits next to PoK head
Twitter fumes as Sidhu hugs Pak Army Chief, sits next to PoK head:
Before entering the President House, Sidhu said: I have come here not as a politician but as a friend. I have come here to take part in the happiness of my friend (Imran)."
Sidhu, Minister of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, and Museums in the Punjab government, said he has brought 'a message of love' to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador of India.
Recalling the words of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sidhu said he also talked about peace between India and Pakistan.
"If there is a fire at a neighbour’s house we get the heat of it," Sidhu said quoting late Vajpayee.
Imran Khan had invited his cricketer friends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev too for his swearing-in ceremony but they reportedly declined the invitation citing prior personal engagements.
