Twarit Vishwa: Exclusion of Ahmadi scholar leads to resignation of 2nd economist

Succumbing to pressure from the hardliners, the Pakistan government on Friday withdrew the nomination of noted economist Atif Mian, a member of the minority Ahmadi community, from a newly-constituted economic panel, according to media reports.

The move came three days after the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government defended the academic's nomination to the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying in categorical terms that it will "not bow to extremists".

Ahmadis are designated non-Muslims in Pakistan's Constitution and their beliefs are considered blasphemous in most mainstream Islamic schools of thought.

They are often targeted by the extremists and their places of worship vandalised.

Mian, an Massachusetts Institute of Technology-educated Pakistani-American economics professor at the prestigious Princeton University, was recently named member of the 18-member EAC to advise the government on economic policy. He is the only Pakistani to be considered among International Monetary Fund's list of 'Top 25 brightest young economists'.