*ISLAMABAD – Pakistani-American economist Atif R Mian has stepped down as amember of the Economic Advisory Council.*
The government asked the economist to submit his resignation following thecontroversy surrounding his faith.
PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan confirmed the news on social media.
“Atif Mian was asked to step down from the Advisory Council and he hasagreed. A replacement will be announced later,” he wrote on Twitter.
Mian’s appointment had been opposed by different political parties such asTehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
A PML-N lawmaker had submitted a resolution against Atif’s appointment inthe KP Assembly.Hafiz Ehtisham Ahmed, a member of the Lal Masjid’s Shuhada Foundation, hadchallenged it in the Islamabad High Court.
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On Tuesday, the government defended the appointment.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said: “This is the person everyone issaying will be the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in the next fiveyears. Why should we not appoint him?”
Chaudhry said that people should not have any problems with the appointmentof any minority, adding that protecting minority communities is thegovernment’s job.
