Bowing to far-right pressure, Pakistan removes Ahmadi adviser
Pakistan's government has asked a leading academic to step down as an economic adviser, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) has announced after far-right groups objected to his appointment based on his faith.
Atif Mian, an economist who belongs to the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam, had been appointed to the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) last week and has now agreed to resign, PTI senator Faisal Javed Khan announced on Friday.
Fawad Chaudhry, the country's information minister, confirmed the decision, saying it was taken because the government wished to maintain unity.
"The government wishes to move forward together with all religious scholars and social classes," he said. "If one appointment creates a different impression, then that is not appropriate."
Pakistan is home to roughly half a million Ahmadis, a long-persecuted minority who are not allowed by Pakistani law to refer to themselves as Muslims, facing prison sentences for doing so.
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