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Pakistan's Khan Rescinds Advisory Post Offer to Religious Minority

by VOA News

   The government of newly-elected Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has
   decided to rescind its offer to a member of a persecuted religious
   minority to become an economic adviser.
   Khan bowed to the religious pressure he received after announcing the
   appointment of Atif Mian to the Economic Advisory Council. Mian is an
   MIT-educated Pakistani-American economics professor at Princeton
   University.
   Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry wrote on Twitter: "The government
   has decided to withdraw the nomination of Atif Mian from the economic
   advisory committee." Chaudhry added, however, that the government wants
   to work with all segments of society.
   Mian is an Ahmadi.
   Ahmadis self-identify as Muslims. But dominant Muslim sects reject the
   Ahmadis' claim that the founder of their sect, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, was
   a prophet. The Ahmadis are considered non-Muslims under Pakistan's
   constitution.
   Rights groups call the Ahmadis one of the most persecuted communities
   in Pakistan.