Pakistan PM Imran Khan oath taking ceremony: Navjot Singh Sidhu says "Didn't go as politician, went as friend"

He further said that “General Bajwa said that he wants peace with India”.

Image courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: Congress leader and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday spurred a massive controversy after he exchanged a ‘warm hug’ with rival country Pakistan’s Army Chief and sat next to PoK President; during newly elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s oath taking ceremony in Islamabad. Sidhu faced backlash from all ends for allegedly ‘betraying’ the countrymen via his gesture. Speaking post the ceremony on the issue, he however said that his visit to Pakistan was “not as an Indian politician, but as a friend”. He further said that “General Bajwa said that he wants peace with India”.

It's our duty that we go back&ask our govt to take a step ahead&I hope if we take one step forward, people here will take two steps forward.Gen Bajwa sahab hugged me&said,“We want peace”. So, let's swim in a blue ocean&shun red ocean. It's my dream:Navjot S Sidhu in #Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/H5ZgxrPcXz

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

Today morning, General Bajwa came to me and said we were thinking of opening Kartarpur route on 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev: Navjot Singh Sidhu in Islamabad #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/4opjS80PO0

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

“It's our duty that we go back and ask our government to take a step ahead and I hope if we take one step forward, people here will take two steps forward. General Bajwa sahab hugged me and said, “We want peace”. He further asserted that he was overwhelmed with the welcome he received in Pakistan and is returning with a lot of love. “The amount of love I got with me, I am going back with 100 times love” former cricketer said. He also lauded Imran Khan and Pakistan’s choice of electing him as a PM, saying “Imran can change Pakistan’s fate”.