Imran Khan oath ceremony: No foreign leader will be invited, says PTI

Apart from a few close friends of Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan, no foreign leader will be invited for his swearing-in ceremony, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday.

Khan will take oath in a simple ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr (President House), Chaudhry said.

“It has been decided that no foreign personalities will be invited to the ceremony — it will be a completely national event. Only a few close friends of Imran Khan will be invited.”

There will be no show of extravagance, he added.

Khan has sent invitations to cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Bollywood actor Aamir Khan.

So far only Sidhu has publicly acknowledged and accepted the invite.

• Calling the Pakistan prime minister-in-waiting a “man of character”, Sidhu said sportsmen have the ability to build bridges and unite people. “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,” the former cricketer said.