In the interview, Khan had said, “I nominated Atif Mian because he is one of the top 25 economists of the world. I did not know he ran a campaign against Khatm-e-Nubuwwat. I had no clue about it.”
Islamabad (Pakistan Point News – 8th September, 2018) Giving in to the pressure of extremist elements in the country, the PTI 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.
But this is not the first time Imran Khan has retracted from Ahmadi Atif Mian’s nomination. He did the same earlier in 2014. A video of an interview Khan gave to a religious outlet then is going viral on social media.
In the interview, Khan had said, “I nominated Atif Mian because he is one of the top 25 economists of the world. I did not know he ran a campaign against Khatm-e-Nubuwwat. I had no clue about it.”
“Let me clear that I understand Allah’s words in Quran and only a person who believes in Quran, can be a Muslim. And when it’s clearly written in the Quran that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the last messenger so whoever does not believe it can’t be a Muslim.” PM Khan had said in the 2014 interview.
He further said that he can’t compromise on his faith.
Watch here:
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.
Following Atif Mian's resignation, two more economists also resigned from the council.
