Nawaz’s offer to Imran: ‘Let’s play a friendly match’

LAHORE: PML-N chief and Pakistan’s prime minister in waiting Nawaz Sharif visited PTI chairman Imran Khan at the Shaukat Khanum hospital on Tuesday, where the cricketer turned politician is being treated after falling off a lifter during a May 7 election rally.

In what is being seen as a gesture of goodwill and humility, the next prime minister of Pakistan presented Imran Khan with a bouquet of roses and prayed for his health and quick recovery.

Only a few days back both the leaders were seen trading barbs during their massive pre-election campaign for the historic general polls of May 11.

Following his visit to Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif spoke to the media outside the hospital and said he and Khan had resolved their differences. “I told Imran that there is a Hadith which says one should not be angry beyond three days,” Sharif told reporters.

“I proposed to Imran that we should play a friendly match,” Sharif said.

Sharif added that the PTI chairman had congratulated him on his win in the recent polls and he (Nawaz) felicitated Khan on his victory in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“I told Imran Khan that the country was mired in a wide range of serious problems and challenges,” Nawaz said, adding he was not doing anything in personal interest and proposed Imran to work together to steer the country out of the troubled waters.

He stated that Imran in response said he would definitely look forward to having a good working relationship with him (Nawaz).

The PM-to-be told Khan that he respected the latter’s mandate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.