PakAlumni Worldwide: The Global Social Network
The Global Social Network
Atif Mian Debacle: Should Imran Khan be Applauded or Attacked?
Pakistani-American Princeton economist Atif Mian was named to Pakistan Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council and then promptly let go because of his Ahmadi faith. Two other economists Harvard's Professor Asim Khwaja and University College London's Imran Rasool have since quit the council in protest over Atif's removal.
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Princeton Economics Prof Atif Mian |
Is Atif Mian's removal a victory of bigotry over meritocracy promised by Imran Khan? Was it a mistake to name him and even bigger mistake to remove him? Did the PTI government underestimate strong reactions to the appointment and subsequent back-tracking? Was PTI caught off-guard by tweets such as "liberal" PPP leader Shehla Raza's tweet attacking Imran Khan for picking "the great grandson of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani" as top economic advisor?
Would PTI's refusal to remove Atif Mian lead to derailment of the entire PTI's anti-corruption and reform agenda? Should Imran Khan be applauded or criticized for taking such political risks? Does Imran Khan realize that he lacks sufficient political capital for such risks? What message does it send about the limits of Imran Khan's capacity to bring about change in Pakistani society?
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PPP Leader Shehla Raza's Tweet Attacking Imran Khan for picking "great grandson of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani" |
What can political leaders do to lead the people to greater tolerance of differences and acceptance of diversity in Pakistan? What must educators, mass media and civil society do to move Pakistan toward Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's vision of an inclusive and tolerant Pakistan?
Azad Labon Kay Sath host Faraz Darvesh discusses these questions with Sabahat Ashraf and Riaz Haq
Related Links:
How Can Imran Khan Help Karachi?
Prime Minister Imran Khan's First Week in Office
Qauid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's Pluralistic Vision of Pakistan
Pakistan Rising or Failing: Reality vs Perception
Views: 493
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Comment by Riaz Haq on October 5, 2018 at 10:57am
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Gita Gopinath and #India’s Brain Drain. High-profile #IMF chief economist and other western-trained #Indian economists no longer appear welcome in Narendra #Modi’s government. https://www.wsj.com/articles/gita-gopinath-and-indias-brain-drain-1...
Harvard professor Gita Gopinath’s appointment as chief economist of the International Monetary Fund raises a question about her native India: Is IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde more likely than Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hire someone with Ms. Gopinath’s stellar academic credentials?
In the past two years, three high-profile Western-trained economists have exited important policy-making positions in India to return to academia in the U.S. A rising drumbeat of nativist sentiment, increased political interference...
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ContinuePosted by Riaz Haq on September 15, 2026 at 8:00pm
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"When you claim that your civilization is superior, is older, is the mother of democracy, is the mother of science....you antagonize others". Christophe Jaffrelot, French Political Scientist, speaking to Indian journalist Karan Thapar after expressions of outrage against BAPS Hindu leader’s recent visit to Eiffel Tower.
In an article published by Carnegie Endowment, Jaffrelot explained that "the majoritarian…
ContinuePosted by Riaz Haq on September 12, 2026 at 11:30am — 1 Comment
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