Washington: The White House today declined to give its response to an online petition concerning Pakistani scientist Aafia Siddiqui, who is currently lodged in a US jail on terrorism charges.
“As the We the People Terms of Participation explain, to ‘avoid the appearance of improper influence,’ the White House may decline to address certain procurement, law enforcement, adjudicatory, or similar matters properly within the jurisdiction of federal departments or agencies, federal courts, or state and local government,” an official response to the petition said.
“That’s why we’re declining to comment on the specific request raised in this petition,” the White House said.
The online petition signed by more than 110,000 people is seeking repatriation of the Pakistani scientist.
Siddiqui is a US trained scientist serving 86 years in Fort Worth Federal prison in Texas after being found guilty of attempted murder of US Army officers and FBI agents in 2010.