Created with a goal of 100,000 signatures on September 21, there have already been 123,000 signatories in under five days.
A petition on the official website of the White House asking for Pakistan to be declared as a state sponsor of terrorism has gathered massive support from netizens, according to the Indian media. Created with a goal of 100,000 signatures on September 21, there have been over123,000 signatories in under five days.
DECLARING A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM IMPORTANT
The petition states that declaring Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism is ‘important to the people of United State of America, India and many other countries which are continuously affected by Pakistan sponsored terrorism.'
This closely follows the move by two US lawmakers who had introduced legislation in the US Congress aimed at designating Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism.
MOVED BY REPUBLICAN ON COMMITTEE ON TERRORISM
The bill was moved by Republican Ted Poe and Democrat Dana Rohrabacher, who is a ranking member of the influential Congressional Committee on Terrorism. “It is time we stopped paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a state sponsor of terrorism,” said Poe, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism.
The online petition on the White House website has its deadline till October 21 but is expected to reach its target much earlier.
This online system of petitioning the White House has been used on several occasions but is mostly for issues ranging from local, national and international issues. The website promises a response from the White House within 60 days if 100,000 signatures are gathered on a petition within 30 days.
MOUNTING PRESSURE ON PAKISTAN
The pressure on Pakistan has been mounting on almost every front with US repeatedly urging the country to crackdown on terrorism originating from its soil. In the wake of the September 18 terror attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri, Pakistan even faces the risk of being isolated by the international community.
