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Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry Tuesday categorically said that Pakistan belongs to minorities as much as it belongs to the majority, saying no one has the right to oppose appointment of a leading international academic in the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) formed by the Prime Minister.
He stated this in response to a malicious online campaign launched by the hardliners and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) against appointment of Dr Atif R Mian of Princeton University (Department of Member Economics and Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy) - an Ahmadi - to the 18-member EAC set up to advise the government on economic policy.
A social media smear campaign erupted against the economist's appointment, with many calling for his removal with hardliners making objections that an Ahmadi should not be included in the EAC.
Others, however, have shown support for Mian, saying that one's religion should not be a factor into their professional qualifications or employment.
From Nobel laureate Dr Abdus Salam to leading economist Atif Mian, there's a long trail of injustice & heart-rending discrimination that patriotic citizens Ahmadis have faced in Pakistan. It will forever render our collective moral compass dysfunctional.
"Anybody objecting to Atif Mian's nomination to the Economic Advisory Committee needs to have their head examined. He is an accomplished professional with impeccable credentials recognized internationally," he maintained.
"He's one of the smartest and most accomplished economists out there and sincerely wants to help his country. For how long will we continue to spurn our best minds for irrelevant reasons," Chaudhry continued. Talking to journalists outside the Parliament, Chaudhry asked: "Should there be restrictions imposed on minorities in Pakistan? Should minorities in Pakistan be thrown out?"
"What kind of people say things like this?" Chaudhry wondered. "This is a man about whom the entire world is saying that he will receive a Nobel Peace Prize in the next five years. He has been appointed to the EAC, not the Council of Islamic Ideology or something else."
"Pakistan belongs as much to minorities as it does to the majority," he added.
"I don't think anyone should have objections [to Mian's appointment], and those who do, they are basically extremists and we will not bow to extremists," he asserted.
"Protecting minorities is our responsibility. It is the religious duty of each Muslim, not just the government, to protect minorities and respect those that they live with," Chaudhry said.
He also took to Twitter so share a message: "Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah appointed Sir Zafar Ullah as foreign minister of Pakistan; we'll follow principles of Jinnah, not of extremists," he tweeted.
A call-to-attention notice was submitted in the Senate on Tuesday against Atif Mian's inclusion in the EAC.
The notice bears the signatures of PML-N, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party members.
There are no PPP signatures on the document, although PPP leader Shehla Raza was among those who criticized Mian's appointment in a tweet that has since been deleted.
The information minister said that Atif Mian has been appointed as a member of the Economic Advisory Council and not the Islamic Ideology Council (IIC), adding those making hue and cry must not cross all limits as they are nobody to dictate the government.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018

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