After Atif Mian & Asim Khajawa, Another Important Member Of EAC Resigned


Dr Imran Rasul resigns from PM's Economic Advisory Council 'with a heavy heart'

London-based economist Dr Imran Rasul has become the second member of government's Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to resign following the exclusion of US-based academic Dr Atif R. Mian, who was asked to step down from the body due to backlash over his Ahmadiyya faith.

Dr Imran Rasul. — Photo courtesy: voxdev.org
"With a heavy heart, I have resigned from the EAC this morning," Dr Rasul, a professor of economics at University College, London, said in a tweet.

The economist said he "profoundly disagree[s]" with the circumstances in which Mian was asked to resign from the council.

Editorial: Atif Mian's removal has dealt another blow to Jinnah's vision of a tolerant & inclusive Pakistan

"Basing decisions on religious affiliation goes against my principles, or the values I am trying to teach my children."

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 establishment of the EAC and its members offered a great opportunity for better economic policy. Events these past 10 days have shown the best and worst of Pakistani politics at the moment. (2/5)

— Imran Rasul (@ImranRasul3) September 8, 2018

Truth be told, if there was one academic on the EAC that Pakistan needs, it was @AtifRMian. Resolving the macro and fiscal mess the country is in will lay the bedrock for social protection, poverty alleviation policies and other economic reforms the country also needs. (3/5)

— Imran Rasul (@ImranRasul3) September 8, 2018

Pakistan is full of talent: I have seen this in the students/academics/orgs/NGOs/civil servants I have been lucky to work with. It needs leaders willing to draw on all this talent, and that are willing to appeal to our better sides, for the common good and not sow division. (4/5)

— Imran Rasul (@ImranRasul3) September 8, 2018

I wish the government and EAC luck in their future work, and remain willing to offer non-partisan, evidence based advice that can help improve economic policy making in the country. (5/5)

— Imran Rasul (@ImranRasul3) September 8, 2018

In a series of tweets, Dr Rasul spoke in favour of Mian's appointment to the advisory council, saying "if there was one academic on the EAC that Pakistan needs, it was [Atif Mian]".

Wishing the government and the EAC luck in their future undertakings, the professor said he remains willing to offer "non-partisan, evidence-based advice" that can help improve economic policymaking in Pakistan.

"Resolving the macro and fiscal mess the country is in will lay the bedrock for social protection, poverty alleviation policies and other economic reforms the country also needs," he reminded.

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