Agencies
ISLAMABAD: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, who claimed that he will visit Pakistan as a 'goodwill ambassador', was clicked giving a warm hug to the neighbouring country's Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa ahead of Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony.
According to media reports, Sidhu, the Congress Member of Parliament, was received by Gen Bajwa at the President House in Islamabad – the venue of Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony.
The two exchanged pleasantries and were seen chatting happily before the start of the event.
While the swearing-in ceremony was underway, Sidhu was spotted sitting next to President of Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) Masood Khan in the front row.
The disturbing images of Sidhu giving a warm hug to Gen Bajwa – the man who is believed to be behind the recent surge in cross-border infiltrations and attack on security forces and civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, is likely to trigger a massive outrage in the country.
The development is also likely to come as a big embarrassment to his Congress party.
Besides Sidhu, Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar were also reportedly invited to Imran Khan's swearing in ceremony but they decided to skip the event.
Sidhu, reacting to the controversy over his decision to attend the event, said that he will go to Pakistan as the 'goodwill ambassador'. However, he was not officially sent to Pakistan as ''goodwill messenger'' and, instead, went there in his individual capacity.
Imran Khan was earlier sworn in as Pakistan's new prime minister at a simple ceremony at the President House in Islamabad.
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