Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and prime minister in-waiting Imran Khan has decided against inviting foreign dignitaries and celebrities to his oath-taking ceremony, the media reported on Thursday.
The party had initially planned to invite several foreign personalities including Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan and Indian cricket legends Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Navjot Singh Siddhu.
"The PTI chairman has directed to stage the oath-taking event with austerity," party spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday. "He will take his oath in a simple ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr (president's house).
"It has been decided that no foreign personalities will be invited to the ceremony... It will be a completely national event. Only a few close friends of Imran Khan will be invited. There will be no show of extravagance at the event," added Chaudhry.
On Wednesday, Chaudhry had told reporters that the party had asked the Foreign Office to apprise its leadership regarding inviting heads of states and foreign leaders of different countries. This may have included Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan's PTI has emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly and he is set to take oath as prime minister on August 11, three days ahead of Pakistan's Independence Day.
MQM-P support to form government
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has decided to join PTI to form the federal government, as per media reports.
MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui confirmed the news on a Geo TV programme on Wednesday. "Yes, we have agreed to cooperate with them (the PTI) for the formation of (a coalition) government at the Centre," he said.
On Thursday, the PTI also sought the support of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M).
MQM-P's Siddiqui added that after a series of past experiences, the party does not want to side with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). "The PPP does not need anyone in Sindh. The MQM-P will sit alongside the PTI on government benches," he said.
The PTI needs support of smaller parties as it is short of numbers to form its government independently.
