ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan will take the oath of prime minister of Pakistan on August 18, PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said. He said that the party would decide on Punjab chief minister and cabinet portfolios soon. The PTI leader said selection of the provincial chief executive is very crucial because the masses have pinned high hopes in the party.
The inaugural session of the National Assembly held on Monday when the newly-elected 324 members of the NA took oath as the lawmakers of 15th Assembly. The MNAs were sworn in by outgoing Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. This was followed by signing the ‘Roll of Members’.
Sidhu, Kapil Dev and Gavaskar invited
Three of India's greatest cricketers Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Navjot Singh Sidhu are finally being invited for Imran's swearing-in ceremony. The swearing -in was earlier scheduled to be held on August 11. Imran's party revived the plan to invite the three cricket legends from India, just a week after it had called off the invitation to foreign dignitaries and international cricket players.
"The ceremony will be completely national in its façade and essence," a statement by his party last week had said, underlining that Khan had decided to go for a simple and austere ceremony. It had come as huge embarrassment for Punjab minister, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu who had promptly accepted the yet-to-come invitation. Sidhu had declared that he would travel to Pakistan for the event, calling Imran Khan "a man of character", a "Greek God" and someone who is "trustworthy".
Kapil Dev had responded more cautiously, underlining that he hadn't received an invite but he will "surely go there" for the ceremony with the government's approval if the invite did come. Sunil Gavaskar has declined the invitation, citing work commitments in England. Khan, who played first class cricket for two decades, has also invited the Pakistan cricket team that he captained in 1992 to a world cup victory over England.
Indian High Commissioner meets Imran
Indian high commissioner Ajay Bisaria met Imran Khan at his residence in Islamabad and congratulated him over the victory of his party in the country’s general elections last month. According to reports, Bisaria raised the issue of cross-border terrorism and infiltration, while Khan spoke about the Kashmir issue and alleged human rights violations by Indian forces in the Valley. Bisaria later tweeted that he had a positive and constructive discussion with Khan. The Indian high commissioner also gifted a cricket bat signed by the entire Indian cricket team to Khan. Khan also called for early resumption of the Saarc process and appealed to India to attend the summit which is to be held in Islamabad. The Indian diplomat accompanied by his deputy, J P Singh, and Pakistan’s PM-designate discussed a wide range of issues and prospects of India-Pakistan relationships. Basaria and Khan, according to PTI sources, specifically focused on matters of mutual interest. The Indian high commissioner also felicitated Khan on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Khan, sources added, stressed the need to restart dialogue between the two countries on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir. “I hope that India will participate in the upcoming Saarc leaders conference, scheduled to be held in Islamabad soon,” Khan told Bisaria, knowing the importance of New Delhi’s role among Saarc nations. “The telephonic conversation between Modi and Khan has given birth to this new hope,” Bisaria said, adding that after PM Modi’s call to Imran, there was a new optimism in India that relations would move forward in the right direction.
