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ISLAMABAD: In an apparent change of heart, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief and Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan has for the sake of austerity, decided against inviting foreign heads of states and celebrities to his oath-taking ceremony.
A day earlier, Chaudhry had claimed that the party had extended invitations to Indian sportsmen and Bollywood stars for Khan’s oath-taking. “Those invited to the oath-taking ceremony include Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Navjot Sidhu and Aamir Khan,” the PTI spokesperson had told reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday. He had said that the PTI was waiting for a government nod to invite the heads of states and foreign leaders of different countries.
Many observers said Khan’s announcement to keep his swearing-in a simple affair was a sensible move, considering his pre-election tirade against Pakistani rulers for living like emperors at public expense. For over two decades, Khan criticized Pakistan’s leadership for their love for protocol and VIP culture despite one-third of the country’s population living below poverty line. “Making his oath-taking a fancy event would have provided enough of material for his opponents to take him on for his claims to live a simple life without protocol after becoming the prime minister,” said Tahir Ali, an observer.
Since emerging as the country’s largest party in the recent polls, one of the first announcements that the PTI chief made was not to live in the official palatial residence of the Prime Minister at the foothills of Himalayas.
Khan is known for using his influential contacts, including those across the border, for public causes, like inviting Amitabh Bachan, Aamir Khan, late Vinod Khanna, slain Princess of Wales Diana and others for fund-raising ceremonies for his cancer hospital.
Speaking to media, the party spokesperson, Fawad Chaudhry said, “The PTI chairman has directed that the ceremony should be extremely simple and modest. There will be no show of extravagance at the event.”
“We will not invite any foreign dignitaries. The ceremony will be a purely national event and will take place at Aiwan-e-Sadr (President House,” the PTI spokesperson said. However, “a few of Imran’s friends are the only foreign nationals being invited to the event,” he said).
A day earlier, Chaudhry had claimed that the party had extended invitations to Indian sportsmen and Bollywood stars for Khan’s oath-taking. “Those invited to the oath-taking ceremony include Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Navjot Sidhu and Aamir Khan,” the PTI spokesperson had told reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday. He had said that the PTI was waiting for a government nod to invite the heads of states and foreign leaders of different countries.
Many observers said Khan’s announcement to keep his swearing-in a simple affair was a sensible move, considering his pre-election tirade against Pakistani rulers for living like emperors at public expense. For over two decades, Khan criticized Pakistan’s leadership for their love for protocol and VIP culture despite one-third of the country’s population living below poverty line. “Making his oath-taking a fancy event would have provided enough of material for his opponents to take him on for his claims to live a simple life without protocol after becoming the prime minister,” said Tahir Ali, an observer.
Since emerging as the country’s largest party in the recent polls, one of the first announcements that the PTI chief made was not to live in the official palatial residence of the Prime Minister at the foothills of Himalayas.
Khan is known for using his influential contacts, including those across the border, for public causes, like inviting Amitabh Bachan, Aamir Khan, late Vinod Khanna, slain Princess of Wales Diana and others for fund-raising ceremonies for his cancer hospital.
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