Imran Khan turns out in support of Sidhu, calls him envoy of peace

Islamabad, Aug 21 Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan today came out in support of Navjot Singh Sidhu who is entangled in a controversy after attending his oath-taking ceremony, saying those who are criticising the Punjab minister are doing a great disservice to peace in the subcontinent.

Sidhu had gone to the occasion in Pakistan on August 18. He was slammed by the Opposition and earned disappointment even from his own chief minister Amarinder Singh over his choice to visit Pakistan and hug its Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The former cricketer today held a press conference in Chandigarh to defend his decision.

"I need to say thanks to Sidhu for coming to Pakistan for my pledge taking. He was an ambassador of peace and was given astonishing adoration and love by individuals of Pakistan," Khan tweeted not long after Sidhu's press conference.

"Those in India who focused him are completing an awesome injury to peace in the subcontinent - without peace our kin can't advance," Khan said.

To move forward, Khan said Pakistan and India must participate in dialogue and resolve their conflicts, including the Kashmir issue.

"The best way to alleviate poverty and uplift the people of the subcontinent is to determine our disparities through discourse and start trading," he said.

Sidhu during the press conference said his visit to Pakistan was not "political" but rather just on a "warm welcome from a friend".