The US Justice Department reported that Asif Raza Merchant, a 46-year-old Pakistani man, has been charged in connection with a plot to assassinate a US politician or govt officials.A criminal complaint revealed that Merchant, a resident of Karachi, allegedly has ties with Tehran. He told investigators he has a wife and children in Iran and a separate family in Pakistan.
Local media reports suggest Merchant worked as a branch manager in a Karachi bank in 2010. His responsibilities included managing an asset and liability portfolio of over Rs 1,850 million, encompassing clients from various sectors including petroleum, textiles, leather, paper products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, as well as various retail, commercial, and corporate clients.
Merchant’s resume detailed his roles in marketing new clients, reviewing and monitoring branch financials, and preparing interim and annual reviews.
A complaint against Merchant claimed he sought to recruit people in the US to carry out the plot in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards top commander Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad in 2020 during Trump’s presidency.
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