LAHORE, March 23: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said the cricket series between Pakistan and India and a positive response by the people of both countries have dispelled apprehensions about the development of friendly relations.
"I hope that this spirit of friendship and brotherhood will further grow," he said at a reception he arranged for the two cricket teams at the Lahore Fort on Tuesday night.
Filmstar Shatrugan Senha, who is also the shipping minister, Minister of State for Sports Vijay Geol, BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmia, Raj Mata of Jaipur, Gurjatri Devi and Mr Abdur Rehman Bukhatir attended the reception.
The Pakistani side was represented by PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Husain, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan, Governor Khalid Maqbool, and PCB chairman Shehryar Khan.
A number of provincial ministers, MNAs and MPAs, senior officials and guests from India and Pakistan were also present. The chief minister thanked the Indian prime minister for sending his country's cricket team to Pakistan. "And the rest of the world then saw how the Pakistani people welcomed it with an open heart."
He said he was happy to note that both the teams had won the hearts of the people by showing decency and broadmindedness on and off the field. He said the president during a reception in Islamabad had also asked the teams to play cricket like a game and control their emotions during matches.
He thanked the people of Pakistan for showing a positive response during all the matches played so far. They too had shown maturity and sportsmanship and avoided emotional response even when their team lost the matches.
Earlier, he said, Lahore had a rich culture and history. The fort was built by Emperor Akbar in 1566, who promoted camaraderie between different religions and sections of society.
Mr Pervaiz Elahi said the city had always been a centre of sports. Lala Amarnath, who was the first Indian to score a Test century, belonged to Lahore. Similarly, Muhammad Nisar, who took five wickets during a Test match between India and Britain in Lords in 1932, and singer Muhammad Rafi, also belonged to the city. Comedian Umer Sharif enthralled the people with his crisp remarks and jokes. Ghulam Ali sang his popular ghazals.
