Bowing to Far-Right Pressure , Pakistan 🇵🇰 Removes Ahmadi Adviser.

Pakistan's government has asked a leading academic to step down as an economic adviser, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) has announced after far-right groups objected to his appointment based on his faith.

Atif Mian, an economist who belongs to the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam, had been appointed to the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) last week and has now agreed to resign, PTI senator Faisal Javed Khan announced on Friday.

Fawad Chaudhry, the country's information minister, confirmed the decision, saying it was taken because the government wished to maintain unity.

"The government wishes to move forward together with all religious scholars and social classes," he said. "If one appointment creates a different impression, then that is not appropriate."

Several hours after his resignation, Mian confirmed the news on Twitter, issuing four tweets in which he expanded on the decision.

Mian said that he stepped down because of "adverse pressure regarding my appointment from the Mullahs (Muslim clerics) and their supporters", adding he was always willing to serve his country.