Economist’s removal sparks outrage
Imran’s government under fire for bowing to pressure from Muslim clerics
Imran Khan-led Pakistan government removed an Ahmadi economist from an advisory role and it has sparked outrage amongst social media users. The government is under fire for bowing to pressure exerted by Muslim clerics to remove Atif Mian, a MIT-educated professor at Princeton University and a follower of the Ahmadiyya faith.
Mian @AtifRMian took to Twitter to announce his dismissal: “… for the sake of the stability of the Government of Pakistan, I have resigned from the Economic Advisory Council, as the Government was facing a lot of adverse pressure regarding my appointment from the Mullahs (Muslim clerics) and their supporters.”
Soon after, social media users expressed their disagreement with the government’s decision and two members of Pakistan’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC) announced that they stepped down from their positions in solidarity with Mian.
Commenting on professor Asim Ijaz Khawaja’s decision to quit the EAC, fellow Harvard University professor, Dani Rodrik, @rodrikdani tweeted: “An honourable action. The Pakistani government’s disinvite of @AtifRMian not only deprives it of top talent, it also reinforces religious bigotry.”
However, tweep Ayesha Ijaz @ayeshaijazkhan highlighted that no Pakistan-based member of the council chose to show their support: “Is it a surprise that both members of the EAC who resigned in solidarity with #AtifMian live abroad and are expats? Is there increasingly a gulf between the way
“So the caving in begins? Only #Ahmadi appointment removed. #PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf)#PMIK (Prime Minister Imran Khan) this mission to create/reclaim Naya Pakistan/Jinnah’s Pakistan cannot afford such supersonic capitulation.” Reema Abbasi @ ReemaAbbasi says such actions contradict Khan’s aim for ‘Naya Pakistan’ “Maybe the ones in Pakistan didn’t resign due to the fears of being called ... sympathisers. Or maybe they were fearful for their lives.” @shani248 thought that they might fear scrutiny
things are done in Pakistan and what’s acceptable in the rest of the world?”
Not the right action
Replying to Ijaz’s post, Twitter user, @shani248 thought that they might fear scrutiny: “Maybe the ones in Pakistan didn’t resign due to the fears of being called ... sympathisers. Or maybe they were fearful for their lives.”
Many netizens said that such actions contradict Khan’s aims to create a “Naya Pakistan” (new Pakistan).
Twitter user Reema Abbasi @ReemaAbbasi posted: “So the caving in begins? Only #Ahmadi appointment removed. #PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf)#PMIK (Prime Minister Imran Khan) this mission to create/reclaim Naya Pakistan/Jinnah’s Pakistan cannot afford such supersonic capitulation.”