Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a pink turban to wear on the occasion of his granddaughter’s wedding, Hindustan Times reported on Monday.
Nawaz donned the Indian Rajasthani pink turban during Modi’s surprise visit on Friday, a source at Nawaz’s Jaati Umra residence told the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Wearing the turban, a gift from Modi, showed Nawaz’s sincerity towards India and demonstrated that the PM values Modi’s gift, the source ─ a member of the PML-N ─ said.
Nawaz’s granddaughter Mehrunnisa married Raheel Munir, the son of well-known industrialist Chaudhry Munir, on Friday.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said Modi had telephoned PM Nawaz and expressed his desire to visit Pakistan on his way back from Kabul, where he had inaugurated the new parliament building, a gift from India to Afghanistan.
“It was a goodwill visit and the two sides decided to understand each other’s reservations and restart the comprehensive dialogue in a positive manner,” said Chaudhry.
Modi was received by Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other Pakistani officials at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. From there, the two leaders flew to Nawaz’s Raiwind residence by helicopter, marking the first time that any leaders of the two countries have travelled together.
The Indian premier was touched by Nawaz’s gesture of welcoming him and accompanying him back to Lahore airport when he left.
Some 2,500 or so guests attended Mehrunnisa and Raheel’s walima ceremony on Sunday.
Governor Rafiq Rajwana, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, elite from Gulf states, federal and provincial ministers, real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, leaders of various political parties, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and senior journalists were prominent among the attendees.
Walima ceremonies will also be held in the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom next month because a number of friends of the Sharifs could not make it to Lahore, a source said.