Pakistani national detained in US for alleged plot to kill politicians

A Pakistani man, Asif Merchant, has been charged in the United States in connection with foiled assassination plot of a politician or governor official, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

The 46-year-old is accused of recruiting hitman to kill prominent American officials. CBS quoted sources as saying Donald Trump was among the targets.

However, the White House has cleared Merchant for having played any role in recent attack of former President.

“A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any US citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI,” Wray was quoted by BBC.

He was arrested in July and is being held in New York.

The Justice Department said that Merchant arrived in the US from Pakistan in April, after spending some time in Iran.

The indictment said the job would not be a “one-time opportunity” and that contacts services would be needed on an ongoing basis.

“For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

Moreover, the court documents do not name the alleged targets of the plot.

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment further.

Moreover, Jean-Pierre told reporters that Asif hails from Karachi. Besides having a family in Pakistan, he also has a wife and kids in Iran.

The spokesperson said Asif had made multiple visit to Iran, Iraq and Syria.