Says basing decisions on religious affiliation goes against my principles
Islamabad (Pakistan Point News – 8th September, 2018) Another economist has resigned from the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) following Dr Atif Mian’s resignation.
Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Another EAC member resign Dr Imran Rasul said, “With a heavy heart, I have resigned from the EAC this morning. The circumstances in which Atif was asked to step down are ones I profoundly disagree with. Basing decisions on religious affiliation goes against my principles, or the values I am trying to teach my children.”
"The establishment of the EAC and its members offered a great opportunity for better economic policy. Events these past 10 days have shown the best and worst of Pakistani politics at the moment," he said.
"Truth be told, if there was one academic on the EAC that Pakistan needs, it was @AtifRMian. Resolving the macro and fiscal mess the country is in will lay the bedrock for social protection, poverty alleviation policies and other economic reforms the country also needs," he continued.
Dr Imran went on to say, "Pakistan is full of talent: I have seen this in the students/academics/orgs/NGOs/civil servants I have been lucky to work with. It needs leaders willing to draw on all this talent, and that are willing to appeal to our better sides, for the common good and not sow division."
"I wish the government and EAC luck in their future work, and remain willing to offer non-partisan, evidence based advice that can help improve economic policy making in the country," he concluded.
Giving in to the pressure of extremist elements in the country, the government on Friday asked renowned economist Dr Atif Mian to step down from Economic Advisory Council (EAC).
In a tweet on Friday, Senator Faisal Javed informed, “Atif Mian was asked to step down from the Advisory Council and he has agreed. A replacement would be announced later.”
People condemned the PTI government’s decision for removing Dr Atif Mian from the advisory council because of his sect.
Protesting the government’s decision to withdraw the nomination of Mian on the EAC, a second celebrated economist resigned from the newly-formed body, saying “being a Muslim I can’t justify this”.
“Have resigned from EAC. Painful, deeply sad decision. Grateful for chance to aid analytical reasoning but not when such values compromised. Personally as a Muslim I can’t justify this. May Allah forgive/guide me&us all. Ever ready to help. Pakistan Paindabad,” Dr Khwaja wrote in his tweet.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had constituted a high-level 18-member Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to ensure that the best possible professional advice is available to the government to inform, optimise and synergise the formulation and implementation of its economic and financial policies.
The Council comprised some of the most erudite and well-respected experts, academics and practitioners of the field, including Dr Atif Mian, who belongs to the Ahmadi sect.
Atif Mian’s appointment had since then sparked an outrage from the conservative sections of society.
The government had earlier defended his appointment but on Friday, in a surprise move, it asked the economist to step down from the advisory council.
