Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who returned today from a visit to Uzbekistan, will meet President Asif Ali Zardari to decide on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's invitation to Pakistan's two top leaders to watch the World Cup semi-final between the teams of the two countries.
Yesterday, the PM had invited Zardari and Gilani to watch the semi-final with him at Mohali on March 30.
Pakistan information minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said other stakeholders, including the military, would be consulted on the issue. Official sources said Singh's invitation is likely to be accepted though only Gilani is expected to go to watch the match that will showcase one of the world's most intense sporting rivalries.
Gilani has already held consultations on the issue with senior foreign ministry officials and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, who had accompanied him to Uzbekistan. Information Minister Awan told reporters that the "invitation of love" from India will receive a "response of love" from Pakistan, which would not waste any opportunity to improve bilateral relations.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar had yesterday said that Pakistan welcomed the invitation extended by Prime Minister Singh.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Imran Khan today denied that presence of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani during the Indo-Pak semifinal clash would put extra pressure on the Pakistani cricketers.
"I don't think it's going to have any effect on the cricketers. Knowing what it is like to play a World Cup and knowing what it is like playing against India, I can tell you that the last thing on Pakistan cricketers mind would be the face of Asif Zardari," said Imran Khan.
