Exits of these 3 prominent and well-known economists have prompted widespread backlash from Pakistan’s intellectual and liberal groups.
New Delhi: Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, which recently appointed an 18-member economic advisory council, has already drawn flak from the country’s intellectuals with three of its top economists — Atif Mian, Asim Khwaja and Imran Rasul — quitting the panel within days.
Have resigned from EAC. Painful, deeply sad decision. Grateful for chance to aid analytical reasoning but not when such values compromised. Personally as a Muslim I can't justify this. May Allah forgive/guide me&us all.Ever ready to help.Pakistan Paindabadhttps://t.co/j80LHEhfRK
— Asim Ijaz Khwaja (@aikhwaja) September 7, 2018
The move comes at a time when the newly elected government’s immediate challenge is to resurrect the country sagging economic conditions with depreciating currency, widening current account deficit and low tax to GDP ratio.
Also read: Imran Khan shows his cowardice by dropping Princeton prof Atif Mian over Ahmedia identity
Renowned Princeton University economist Mian, a member of the Ahmadi community that was declared a non-Muslim minority in 1974 by Pakistani Parliament, was asked to step down Friday after the government buckled under pressure from the hardliners. Within hours after Mian was removed, Khwaja, also a US-based academic, quit in protest.
Rasul, an economics professor of University College London, also resigned from the EAC Friday. He tweeted: “The circumstances in which Atif was asked to step down are ones I profoundly disagree with.”
With a heavy heart, I have resigned from the EAC this morning. The circumstances in which Atif was asked to step down are ones I profoundly disagree with. Basing decisions on religious affiliation goes against my principles, or the values I am trying to teach my children. (1/5)
— Imran Rasul (@ImranRasul3) September 8, 2018
The exits of these two prominent and well-known economists have prompted widespread backlash from the country’s intellectual and liberal groups as it blotches the image of the country as well as the newly formed government.
Many took to social media, including Twitter, to express their shock calling it an act of religious bigotry. Earlier, the government was criticised for appointing an all-men economic council.
The high number of world-leading economists tweeting about the absurdity of removing Atif Mian is feeding into our image of a bigoted state.
An image we absolutely deserve.
— Shahrukh Wani (@ShahrukhWani) September 7, 2018
Analysts and economists in India too are carefully watching the developments. “A healthy and financially stable neighbour is required for overall development of trade and other bilateral relations and this will come as a blow for its (Pakistan’s) neighbours as well,” said an economist, who did not wish to be identified.
Prime Minister Khan, in his first address to the nation, underlined the need for immediate, stringent reform measures and actions to put the sagging economy of the country back on track. He said that Pakistan must be able to stand on its own without aids from other countries, besides the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Pakistan would require about $3 billion immediately to ensure that it does not default on loans from the IMF and World Bank.
Also read: Imran Khan government’s honeymoon in Pakistan looks all but over
Earlier Mian, announcing his resignation on Twitter wrote, “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.”
Incidentally, even as Imran Khan buckles under pressure from right-wing religious groups, this isn’t the first time religious groups have tried to get the government to get rid of somebody due to his person’s Ahmadi links.
In 2016, when the government was considering names for appointment of the next Chief of Army Staff, there was a campaign against one of the candidates only because he had a distant relative who was an Ahmadi. Some groups even published newspaper advertisements to oppose his name, with the head of Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, Pakistan, even going to extent of saying the officer would “lead the country to doom” and that “these people (Ahmadis) are the worst enemies of the country.”
This is how the cookie begins to crumble. We have seen this with PM Rajiv Gandhi as well, who started with a much larger majority. Pakistan has taken some steps recently to give its Hindu minority a sense of comfort. The Ahmadis deserve no less. Pakistan needs the best economic expertise and advice it can get, including from foreigners. PM Imran Khan has a lot on his plate, is dealing with a lot of contradictions. Lowering Pakistan’s index of religiosity / fundamentalism will help him succeed,