Pakistani National Arrested in the US for Alleged Assassination Plot: A Closer Look
Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national, has been arrested by American authorities on charges of planning to assassinate a political figure, organizing protests, and stealing official documents. According to sources, Merchant sought and received $5,000 from his uncle in Karachi through non-banking channels to hire hitmen for the alleged plot, as reported by The News on Thursday.
Merchant, who previously worked as a branch manager at a bank in Karachi in 2010, had been working with his uncle’s company after resigning from a bank in Punjab in 2019. His uncle, who runs a business that once exported up to $2 million in clothing, claimed that he was unaware of his nephew’s intentions, stating that Merchant had requested the money under the pretext of business needs. The company’s phone lines have since either been disconnected or answered by staff who deny any connection to the office.
This arrest is linked to Merchant’s recent visit to the United States, where he was allegedly exploring business opportunities. It was not his first trip to the US, as he had previously traveled there in 2013, 2017, and most recently in 2024 on B1-B2 visas. Merchant’s sister resides in the US, and he was arrested at the airport while attempting to return to Pakistan. His family in Karachi became aware of his arrest on July 14, after he failed to arrive home.
Further investigations revealed that Merchant had made at least 15 trips to Iran, Iraq, and Yemen since 2015, possibly to establish connections. It is believed that he began showing signs of radicalization in 2013, though the exact factors that led to his transformation into a suspected terrorist remain unclear.
US law enforcement agencies first became aware of Merchant’s activities in mid-June when he met with individuals he believed to be hitmen, who were actually undercover officers. During this meeting in New York, Merchant outlined his plans, which included theft of documents, organizing protests at political rallies, and assassinating a political figure. He informed the undercover officers that the assassination would be carried out in late August or early September, after his departure from the US.
On June 21, Merchant met with the undercover officers again and handed over a $5,000 advance payment. Following the exchange, the officers confirmed their commitment to the plan, with Merchant affirming their agreement. He then made flight arrangements to leave the US on July 12, 2024, but was arrested by law enforcement before he could depart.
Pakistani intelligence officials have noted that the US authorities did not initially share information about Merchant’s arrest, and they only became aware of the situation through media reports before receiving official requests for assistance. Merchant’s uncle is currently under questioning as part of the ongoing investigation into the case.
