An honest initiative: Imran Khan distances himself for minister's 'googly-remark'
Distancing himself from his minister's remarks that it was 'googly', Pakistan PM Imran Khan has claimed facilitating the Kartarpur Corridor was a sincere effort to initiate peace with India. Notably, Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had mocked the presence of two Indian Union ministers at the ceremony and said India sent them after Khan bowled a googly, a reference to his days as cricketer.
Khan had spoken about peace at ceremony
Last week, Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor, which links two revered gurdwaras on both sides of the border. Khan, who has completed more than 100 days in office, spoke about peace with India and said Islamabad was ready to take two steps if Delhi took one. But comments of Qureshi sparked a row and showed Pakistan wasn't serious about it.
Swaraj tells Qureshi: You have been exposed
Separately, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj came down heavily on Qureshi after his remarks and clarified no one was bowled over by the googly. She added this comment exposed Pakistan and showed they didn't respect Sikhs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who attended the ceremony, also said she went there as it was a matter of faith and asked Khan to intervene after Qureshi's irresponsible words.
Sikhs are not pawn in chess, Badal slams Qureshi
Later, Qureshi says linking his comments to Sikhs is wrong
In hot waters after his comment was ridiculed, Qureshi tweeted connecting his statements to Sikhs was wrong. "What I said was strictly with reference to bilateral interaction with the Indian government. We have deep respect for Sikh sentiments, (sic)" he tweeted. He added the corridor was opened for Sikhs and 'in deference to the long-standing desires of our Sikh brethren'.
