White House denies Pakistani national Asif Merchant’s role in attempt on Donald Trump

The US administration has outrightly denied that Pakistani national Asif Merchant was involved in the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump while giving Pakistan’s reaction Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that they are in contact with American authorities and are awaiting further details, reported 24NewsHDTV channel on Wednesday.

The Foreign Office spokesperson mentioned that they have noted the statements from the US officials indicating that it is an ongoing investigation.

She emphasized that before giving an official response or questioning the individual involved, it is necessary to verify the details of previous incidents. “We have seen the media reports. We are in touch with the US authorities and await further details. We have also noted the statements by US officials that this is an ongoing investigation. Before giving our formal reaction, we also need to be sure of the antecedents of the individual in question.”

Earlier, the White House denied that Asif Merchant was involved in the attack on US presidential candidate Donald Trump. The White House spokesman in a statement said Asif Merchant had nothing to do with the assassination of former US President Donald Trump.

Yesterday, a Pakistani man with alleged ties to Iran has been arrested and charged with plotting to carry out political assassinations on US soil, the Justice Department announced.

According to the channel report, prosecutors in Brooklyn revealed criminal charges against Asif Merchant, accusing him of travelling to New York to hire a hitman for the planned assassinations. The plot was foiled before any action could be taken.

The case against Merchant, 46, details his travel to New York City and collaboration with a hitman to execute the assassinations in late August or early September. Federal prosecutors indicated the plot was aimed at high-ranking US officials, potentially including Trump.

While court documents do not identify any potential targets, the case was unsealed just weeks after US officials disclosed a threat to Donald Trump’s life from Iran, which led to increased security at a Pennsylvania rally last month where Trump was injured by a 20-year-old Pennsylvania gunman’s bullet. 

US officials have long warned about Iran's desire to avenge the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, the leader of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, an operation ordered by Trump.

Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, “The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger America’s national security.”

US Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York remarked, "Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of US government officials on American soil. 

This prosecution demonstrates that this Office and the entire U.S. Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation’s security, our government officials, and our citizens from foreign threats."

Reporter: Anwar Abbas/Agencies