ISLAMABAD: Days after U.S. authorities charged a Pakistani man, Asif Merchant, for allegedly having ties with Iran in a foiled plot to assassinate U.S. politicians, sources from Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) reported that they have found no criminal record of the suspect in his home country.
As local authorities initiate their investigation, it has been revealed that Asif, a resident of Karachi, has not been involved in any criminal activities within Pakistan and is also listed as an active filer with the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR).
The 46-year-old was arrested in the U.S. on July 12 this year for allegedly attempting to recruit a hitman in New York—who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent—to kill a U.S. politician or government official.
A criminal complaint suggests that Asif, son of Habib Merchant, was planning the alleged assassination(s) in retaliation for the U.S. killing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ top commander, General Qasem Soleimani, in 2020.
According to sources Asif Merchant, who is married and a father of two, has traveled to Iran several times between November 2, 2017, and April 8, 2024, using three different passports. His stays in Iran included a period from November 2 to November 14, 2017, and another from September 17, 2023, to October 15, 2023.
Following this, he flew to the U.S. on November 21, 2023, before returning to Pakistan on December 17, 2023. In 2024, Asif traveled to Iran on January 15, returning on February 12, and again on April 1, returning on April 8. He finally traveled to the U.S. via Turkey from Pakistan on April 11, 2024.
In addition to his travel history, authorities have gathered details of four mobile phone numbers, including one international number, used by Asif. They have also traced records of three vehicles and a motorcycle registered in his name in Karachi.
The suspect holds a Master’s degree in Management Systems and began his banking career in 2002, though he was later dismissed for alleged corruption. He worked as a branch manager at a Karachi bank in 2010, managing an Asset and Liability Portfolio of over Rs1,850 million. His clients included companies in the petroleum, textiles, leather, paper products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals sectors, as well as various retail, commercial, and corporate clients.
Commenting on the matter, the Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan stated on Wednesday that Islamabad is in contact with authorities in Washington and is awaiting further details about the charges against Asif.
FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “We have seen the media reports. We are in touch with the U.S. authorities and await further details.” She also noted that U.S. officials have described the case as part of an ongoing investigation.
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