A Pakistani national with alleged ties to Iran has been charged in a New York federal court for plotting to assassinate a US politician and other officials on American soil.
The criminal complaint, unsealed in Brooklyn, announced the arrest and charging of 46-year-old Asif Raza Merchant in a “murder-for-hire” scheme.
While CNN and BBC reported that former President Donald Trump and other current and former government officials were the intended targets, the White House clarified that this plot was unrelated to the recent assassination attempt on the Republican presidential nominee in Butler, Pennsylvania.
FBI Director Christopher Wray described the plot as “Straight out of the Iranian playbook,” highlighting Merchant’s alleged close ties to Iran. Documents revealed that Merchant, a resident of Karachi, has family in both Iran and Pakistan.
Law enforcement successfully thwarted the plot before any attack could be carried out, and Merchant is currently in federal custody in New York. The court documents emphasized that the charges are allegations, and Merchant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Details of the Alleged Plot
According to the court documents, Merchant arrived in the US from Pakistan in April 2024 after spending time in Iran. He contacted an individual he believed could assist with the scheme, who then reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source.
In early June, Merchant met the source in New York and detailed his assassination plot, indicating that there would be multiple opportunities to carry it out. He made a “finger gun” motion to signify the killing and instructed the source to arrange meetings with potential hitmen.
Merchant discussed various assassination scenarios with the source, emphasizing that the targets would be in the US and would have significant security. He confirmed that he had communicated with an unidentified “party” back home, who instructed him to finalize the plan and leave the US.
In mid-June, Merchant met with undercover US law enforcement officers posing as hitmen. He outlined his need for three services: theft of documents, organizing protests at political rallies, and assassinating a “political person.” He indicated that instructions for the assassination would be given in late August or early September, after his departure from the US.
Merchant arranged to obtain $5,000 in cash as an advance payment for the hitmen, which he received with help from an overseas contact. He planned to leave the US on July 12 but was arrested before he could depart.
Reaction from Pakistan
The Pakistani Embassy in Washington, currently without an ambassador, stated that they are reviewing the matter and are not yet in a position to comment.
The Foreign Office in Islamabad acknowledged ongoing communication with US authorities and is awaiting further details before issuing a formal reaction.
“Before giving our formal reaction, we also need to be sure of the antecedents of the individual in question,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.
