ISLAMABAD, Sept. 4 (TNS): Defending Mian Atif’s inclusion in Economic Advisory Council, Information minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said PM appointed him as member of the economic body not as a member of the Islamic Council.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday Chaudhry said that Pakistan belongs to minorities as much as it belongs to others.
“Should we throw them out?” Chaudhry questioned while addressing criticism following the appointment of Dr Atif Mian as a member of the newly reconstituted Economic Advisory Council (EAC).
“What is wrong with the appointment of him as a member of the EAC?” Chaudhry further questioned.
“This is the person everyone is saying will be the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in the next five years. Why should we not appoint him?” he added.
“It is not like we have appointed him as a member of the Islamic Council,” the information further said.
“No one should have any problem with the appointment of any minority,” Chaudhry asserted.
Moreover, the information minister upheld that protecting members of the minority communities is “not just the job of the government but also the religious right of every Muslim”.
“Those opposing the appointment are fundamentally extremists,” he maintained.
“We should not bow down to extremists,” Chaudhry further stressed.
Speaking about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf presidential candidate Dr Arif Alvi, Chaudhry said he is a professional man.
“There is no doubt over his commitment to the party and its ideology,” he said.
