Pakistan Government Removes Minority Economist from Advisory Council

Islamabad, Sept 7: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Friday asked renowned economist Atif R. Mian, who belongs to the persecuted and minority Muslim sect Ahmadi, to step down from the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) following mounting pressure from religio-political parties against his appointment. Atif Mian, a Princeton University economist, had been appointed to the EAC last week and has agreed to resign, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted on Friday. A replacement will be announced later, he said. The news of his removal from the body came as a surprise since the Imran Khan government three days ago defended the academic’s nomination, saying in categorical terms that it will “not bow to extremists”. (IANS)