Amid continued uncertainty whether Pakistan PM will attend Indian PM designate Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony, an Indian TV channel quoted Pakistani official as saying that Nawaz Sharif will attend the swearing-in.
New Delhi, May 24/Nationalturk- Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will attend the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (May 26), Indian TV channel quoted Pakistani official as saying.
Indian TV channel Zee News quoted Pakistan Prime Minister Office as saying that Sharif will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.
However, Pakistan has not made any official announcement in this regard.
India sent invite to Pakistan PM and other South Asian leaders to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi, who was elected prime minister in recently held generation elections in India.
It is for the first time that India has invited any Pakistani or South Asian leader for swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Prime Minister.
Pakistan PM discussing invite with close aides
Pakistani officials have said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who wants close relations with India, has been holding talks with his top close aides and confidents to discuss whether to accept or reject the invitation.
There are divisions in his camp with some favouring him to attend the function while others say he should send senior official or minister to the oath-taking ceremony.
Pakistan newspaper The Dawn had reported yesterday that country’s Foreign Office had recommended Sharif to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Modi.
Pakistan’s leader of opposition in parliament, Khurshid Ahmed Shah has also urged Sharif to accept the invitation in the larger interest of the people of the two countries.
Civil society groups urge Sharif to accept invitation
Another Pakistan newspaper, Daily Times, reported that many civil society organizations have urged PM Sharif to attend Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
In a joint statement, Pakistan Civil Societies Forum (Sindh Chapter), Pakistan Peace Coalition and Pakistan Secular Forum have said it will be a mistake to let this opportunity go; we need to see beyond today’, is most welcome.”
“We also fully endorse the statement of the opposition leader in the National Assembly, PPP’s Syed Khursheed Shah that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must attend the ceremony. We express our full support and urge Prime Minister Sharif to formally accept the invitation and attend the ceremony in Delhi as the elected prime minister of Pakistan,” they said.
“We appeal to the prime ministers of Pakistan and India to use this rare opportunity to take a solemn pledge in Delhi to begin with the immediate implementation of all the provisions of existing agreements between our two countries – easing of visa regime, opening of all land and sea routes, lifting of restrictions on exchange of information including newspapers, books and TV channels, etc, – along with the introduction of other already agreed Confidence Building Measures (CBMs),” they added.
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