New Delhi: Appreciation for Congress president Sonia Gandhi's gesture of not accepting the post of Prime Minister transcends borders. This was indicated today (Nov 5, 2004) when Pakistan's renowned cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan described her gesture as "incredible".

Participating in the Hindustan Times Leadership Initiative Conference in New Delhi, the Tehreek-e-Insaaf party chief noted his appreciation for Gandhi in response to a question.

"Sonia Gandhi had a chance to be the Prime Minister but she allowed somebody else to take the post. Her gesture is incredible," he said. He noted that such a "psyche" was rare in the sub-continent.

Khan was responding to a question as to with whom he would like to go for a date in India.

The cricketing legend's yearning for democracy in his country also spilled over as he said functioning of the system in India made him jealous. "There is no substitute to genuine democracy, howsoever bad it may be. India is an example of functioning democracy," he said adding, "I envy the Indian democracy and elections."

Referring to the recent Lok Sabha elections, he said, "Millions of people voted and there were complaints from only a few areas. The Government in power lost and went and the new Government took over smoothly."

He regretted that the Pakistani "establishment" had not allowed democracy to take roots in his country and blamed the US for encouraging this process by "always helping the dictators".

Khan said he worried that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf might take action against him as he was his bitter critic.