Navjot Singh Sidhu shares dais with President of PoK at Imran Khan’s swearing-in

Congress leader and Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu sat next to Masood Khan - President of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) - at Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony as 22^nd Prime Minister of Pakistan. Sidhu, a friend of Imran, was invited to attend the “extremely simple” and “austere” swearing-in ceremony held at President’s house in Islamabad on Saturday.

During the ceremony, Sidhu seated next to Masood in the front row. Caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan and Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi were among the other leaders who were sitting in the first row.

Islamabad: Navjot Singh Sidhu was seated next to President of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(PoK) Masood Khan at Imran Khan's oath ceremony. #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/6gBzxPJGtO

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018

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Besides, Sidhu also met Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at Imran's oath-taking ceremony. The Congress leader hugged the Pak Army Chief, who warmly responded and gave a tight handshake.

Earlier on Friday, the former Indian opener, who reached Lahore after crossing the Wagah border, said that he had come to attend the ceremony as a friend and not as a politician.

Sidhu said that he came to Pakistan as a "goodwill ambassador of India" and brought the “message of love”.

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Sidhu was bashed on social media for his decision to visit Pakistan to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Imran Khan. He, however, quoted former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his defence and said, "If there is a fire at a neighbour's house, we will also get the heat."