London-based Top economists quit Imran's panel over minority colleague's ouster
Islamabad, Sep 8: London-based economist Imran Rasul became the second member of Prime Minister Imran Khan's Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to resign after Atif Mian stepped down from the body following a backlash in Pakistan over his Ahmadi faith.
"With a heavy heart, I have resigned from the EAC this (Saturday) morning," Rasul, a professor of economics at University College London (UCL), tweeted.
"The circumstances in which Atif was asked to step down are ones I profoundly disagree with," Rasul said in a series of tweets.
His resignation comes a day after two prominent Pakistani economists resigned from the EAC after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government asked one of them to step down.
Atif Mian, a professor at Princeton University and Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy, had said he was resigning because the government was facing pressure regarding his appointment.
Terming the reasons for Atif's removal and subsequent resignation as "irrelevant factors", Rasul expressed his disappointment and said it would be hard to replace the Princeton economist.
Commenting on the formation of the economic body, Rasul said the body offered a great opportunity for better economic policies but "events these past 10 days have shown the best and worst of Pakistani politics at the moment".
On Thursday, protesting the government's decision to withdraw the nomination of Atif Mian on the EAC, celebrated economist Asim Ijaz Khwaja resigned from the newly-formed body, saying "being a Muslim I can't justify this".
Khwaja - who was one of the initial 18 members of the EAC that Mian was part of - announced his decision on Twitter shortly after news spread that Mian was not part of the EAC.
The first meeting of the recently reconstituted EAC was presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan. With the resignation of Rasul, all three international economists of Pakistani origin on the council are no longer part of the advisory body.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
14 arrested in Mangaluru unisex salon vandalism case
Mangaluru: The police have arrested 14 individuals in connection with the vandalism at a unisex salon near the Bejai KSRTC bus stand on Thursday afternoon.
The attack, carried out by members of the Ram Sena Karnataka, was targeted at the Colors Unisex Salon, where the activists accused the establishment of engaging in immoral activities.
According to reports, a group of around ten activists barged into the salon while four women and a man were present. They attacked the man and vandalized the premises before fleeing the scene. Barke police, who were alerted about the incident, launched an investigation and arrested the accused.
ALSO READ: Vitla: One arrested in connection with daring robbery posing as ED officers; 5 others still at large
The arrested individuals have been identified as Harsharaj alias Harshit of Farangipet, Mohandas alias Ravi of Moodshedde, Purandara of Uppal, Sachin of Vamanjoor Ambedkar Nagar, Ravish of Ulaibettu, Sukhet of Benjanapadavu Shivajinagar, Ankit of Vamanjoor, Kalimuthu of Moodshedde Shivajinagar, Abhilash of Tarigudde, Deepak of Moodshedde, Vignesh of Saripalla, Sharan Raj of Mangaluru, Pradeep Poojary of Moodshedde, and Prasad Attavara.
Authorities have registered a case and are investigating further.
