Pakistan’s top varsity cancels seminar by Ahmadi economist after ‘threats from extremists’

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi has cancelled a scheduled online seminar that was to feature celebrated economist Dr Atif Mian, allegedly due to pressure by “extremists”. Dr Atif R. Mian’s lecture scheduled on November 5, 2020, was cancelled after he university administration was facing from extremists. Atif Mian is a Princeton University economist, but rejected by Pakistan due to his Ahmadi faith.

Dr Mian became a widely discussed name in Pakistan in 2018 after the PTI government appointed him to the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Economic Advisory Council (EAC), an 18-member panel set up to advise the newly-formed government on economic policy.

Less than a month after taking office, however, the government asked Mian to step down from the EAC amid mounting pressure from religio-political parties and a smear campaign launched on social media seeking his removal over his Ahmadiyya faith.

Source: Dawn