Pakistani PM slams those who criticised Sidhu for his visit to Pakistan 

Pakistani PM Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the historic Kartarpur Corridor on Wednesday, November 28. It will link Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district to facilitate visa-free movement of Sikh pilgrims.

While addressing the press Imran Khan ridiculed the criticism faced by Sidhu on the occasion of the latter’s visit to Pakistan:

“Navjot Singh Sidhu can win an election even in Pakistan, said Prime Minister Imran Khan and wondered why there was a hue and cry over the former Indian cricketer’s push for peace and brotherhood during his previous visit to the country.

The corridor made headlines in August after the Punjab Cabinet Minister and Congress leader visited Pakistan to attend Prime Minister Khan's swearing-in ceremony. Sidhu was later criticised for embracing Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

"I heard there was a lot of criticism of Sidhu when he went back after my oath-taking ceremony. I don't know why was he criticised. He was just talking about peace and brotherhood," Khan said.

Sidhu has such a large fan following in Pakistan, especially in the country's Punjab province, that if he ran in elections here, he would win.

Pakistani PM said “He can come and contest election here in Pakistan's Punjab, he'll win," the cricketer-turned-politician said about Sidhu. "Hopefully we will not have to wait for Sidhu to become prime minister for relations to improve between the two countries and before that, Indian leadership will take positive steps," Khan said.

The fondness that Imran Khan showed was not one-sided as his 'friend' Sidhu also heaped praises for the Pakistan Prime Minister. In his inimitable style, Sidhu took to poetry to express his gratitude to Imran for giving his nod to the Kartarpur Corridor. "Mera yaar, dildaar, Imran Khan," he said adding that his "big hearted" friend has kept his promise and ended 70 years of wait for the corridor.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the corridor to Kartarpur Sahib, one of the holiest shrines of Sikhs, was held in Pakistan, amid discord between the two nations over the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit. Announcing that India will not participate in the meet which will be held in Pakistan, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said Islamabad has to do more for dialogues to begin. "The dialogue is not connected with only Kartarpur corridor... The moment Pakistan stops terrorist activities in India, the dialogue can start," she said. India is being represented at today's event near Lahore by two Union ministers. Punjab minister Navjot Sidhu is also attending.

The Kartarpur Corridor is expected to be completed within six months.