IT is a pity that Dr Atif Mian was asked to step down as a member of the reconstituted Economic Advisory Council. The reason: his religious beliefs, The prime minister’s decision to appoint Dr Atif was laudable. The decision to backtrack is not.

We speak of building Jinnah’s Pakistan. Thus if the Quaid is our inspiration, then we need to follow in his footsteps. We need to work towards building a tolerant society that is focused only on building Pakistan as a welfare state fashioned on the lines of the State of Madina. We must also ensure that the minorities are guaranteed equal opportunities.

It was in this spirit that in the early years the minorities attained the highest offices in the land. The list is long and the space too small to accommodate the names of all these patriotic Pakistanis.

If Dr Atif Mian belongs to a minority community, this should not have affected his services to Pakistan which are badly needed by the nation at this hour.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal

Karachi

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THIS is with reference to the withdrawal of Atif Mian’s name from the Economic Advisory Council. Imran Khan has well and truly buried Jinnah’s Pakistan.

Naya Pakistan has shown no tolerance. Meritocracy has no scope.

Ava A. Cowasjee

Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2018