Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu

NEW DELHI: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Thursday he sees the ascension of Imran Khan in Pakistan as "an opportunity to change people's lives, and as an opportunity for peace".

In a press conference, Sidhu heaped praise on Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Prime Minister-elect, displayed how ecstatic he was at being invited to Khan's swearing in ceremony and said Khan could finally be the key to better India-Pakistan ties.

"He (Khan) has always exhibited great character during times of crisis and man with character can be trusted…he built a world class hospital in a place where there was hardly any proper healthcare…look at his journey in politics, he's rise from scratch, fought the system and he's now empowered to change things," said Sidhu.

It's time, said the former Indian batsman, to change the image of the 'ugly politician.' Presumably, he was referring to Khan's being easy on the eye, as Times Now reported him saying Khan was like a Greek God.

Earlier, Sidhu has said he was accepting the invitation to attend Khan's swearing in which is expected to take place on August 11. IN addition to Sidhu, Khan's invited former cricket greats Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev . Also in receipt of an invite is Bollywood actor Aamir Khan , whose connection to cricket is the period film ‘Lagaan’, in which he played the lead role.

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," Sidhu said in a statement.

Sources said the invitations to the Indian celebrities were sent out on the basis of the good rapport Khan shares with them. In his victory speech, following the July 25 general elections in which the PTI emerged as the single largest party, Khan reminded his critics in media that his connection with Indians was from the days of playing cricket and traveling in India.

Though the invites to the non-governmental guests have already been sent, the PTI has asked the Foreign Office (FO) to confirm whether foreign heads of states could be invited to the prime minister’s swearing-in ceremony, scheduled to take place in Islamabad on August 11, three days before the country’s Independence Day. Sources said the PTI leaders in a meeting with the Foreign Office today sought permission to invite Modi and other foreign heads of Saarc states to the ceremony.

However, a day earlier, the PTI had denied news reports that it was considering inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other heads of Saarc countries.

In an informal conversation with reporters outside the Supreme Court after meeting the chief justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, the PTI’s spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said that the party has asked the FO if it would be possible to invite foreign dignitaries, including Indian PM Narendra Modi, at a short notice.

“The FO is yet to respond on the matter and we are waiting for it,” Chaudhry said.

