ISLAMABAD: Washington has not held any discussions with Islamabad about a Pakistani man charged in the United States in connection with a failed plot to assassinate American politicians or government officials, a US State Department official said on Thursday.
The US Justice Department confirmed media reports on Aug. 6 it had charged Pakistan’s Asif Merchant, 46, for wanting to recruit people in the US to assassinate US politicians or government officials in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ top commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Merchant, who prosecutors allege spent time in Iran before traveling to the United States from Pakistan, was charged with murder for hire in federal court in New York’s Brooklyn borough. A federal judge ordered him detained on July 17, according to court records.
Pakistan’s foreign office said on Wednesday it was in contact with American officials and was awaiting “further details” about the investigation.
“I don’t have any discussions to speak to today, but we have been clear that the United States will continue to do what is necessary to protect its people, including foreign officials, from threats emanating from Iran,” US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a weekly press briefing in response to Merchant’s case.
“That continues to be the case and beyond that, it’s really a matter that I should leave to the justice department,” he added.
When pressed to speak further on the matter, Miller said it was an “ongoing legal matter” hence he could not share more details about it.
According to the Justice Department, Merchant arrived in the US from Pakistan in April 2024 after spending time in Iran. There, he contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme. That person reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (CS), it added.
Court documents do not name the alleged targets of the plot. Merchant told a law enforcement informant that there would be “security all around” one target, according to the criminal complaint.
Trump, the Republican candidate in the November 5 presidential election, was wounded in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last month.
The US attorney general said investigators had found no evidence that Merchant had any connection to the shooting, which officials have said was carried out by a lone 20-year-old gunman.
The Justice Department said Merchant told the CS that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them $5,000 in advance for the assassination.
Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024, said the Justice Department. On July 12, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country.
US says no discussions held with Islamabad about Pakistani charged in foiled assassination plot
https://arab.news/2jxma
US says no discussions held with Islamabad about Pakistani charged in foiled assassination plot
- Washington says “will continue to do what is necessary” to protect its people from threats
- Asif Merchant attempted to recruit people in US to assassinate American officials, says Washington
Curfew extended in Gilgit-Baltistan, probe ordered after deadly Khamenei protests
- At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in Gilgit-Baltistan
- Government also announces a de-weaponization campaign, crackdown on hate speech and cybercrime in region
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region on Tuesday extended a curfew in Gilgit district and ordered a judicial probe into violent protests over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes last week, an official said.
At least 15 people were killed in clashes with law enforcement agencies over the weekend in GB, where protesters torched and vandalized several buildings, including United Nations regional offices, an army-run school, software technology park and a local charity building.
The violence prompted regional authorities to impose curfew in Gilgit and Skardu districts on March 2-4 as officials urged people to stay indoors and cooperate with law enforcers, amid widespread anger in Pakistan, particularly among members of the Shiite minority, over Khamenei’s killing.
On Tuesday, the GB government convened to review the situation and announced the extension of curfew in Gilgit among a number of security measures as well as ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the weekend violence in the region.
“The government has made it clear that the law will strictly take its course against elements involved in vandalism at government institutions, private properties and incidents of vandalism in Gilgit and Skardu and no kind of mischief will be tolerated,” Shabbir Mir, a GB government spokesperson, said in a statement.
“In view of the security situation, curfew will remain in force in Gilgit, while the decision to extend the curfew in Skardu will be taken keeping the ground realities and the changing situation in view.”
The statement did not specify how long the curfew will remain in place in Gilgit.
Besides the formation of the judicial commission to investigate the violent clashes, the government also decided to launch a large-scale de-weaponization campaign in the entire Gilgit district, for which relevant institutions have been directed to immediately complete all necessary arrangements, according to Mir.
In addition, a crackdown has been ordered on hate speech, spread of fake news and cybercrime.
“The aim of these decisions is to ensure the rule of law, protect the lives and property of citizens and crack down on miscreants,” he said. “Approval has also been given to immediately survey the affected infrastructure and start their restoration work on priority basis.”
Demonstrators in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi also stormed the US Consulate on Sunday, smashing windows and attempting to burn the building. Police responded with batons, tear gas, and gunfire, leaving 10 people dead and more than 50 injured.
Pakistani authorities have since beefed up security at US diplomatic missions across the country, including around the US consulate building in Peshawar, to avoid any further violence.
