ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that false claims linking Pakistan to the deadly Bondi Beach shooting in Australia were deliberately spread by “hostile countries” to malign the country’s image.
Speaking at a media briefing in Islamabad, Tarar rejected reports that suggested one of the attackers was from Pakistan, saying the allegations lacked evidence and verification from the outset. He stressed that the misinformation campaign began immediately after the attack, despite the absence of confirmed facts.
Facts Contradict Early Media Claims
The shooting on Sunday left 16 people dead, including one of the attackers. In the immediate aftermath, a Pakistan-origin resident of Sydney was wrongly identified as one of the assailants. Authorities later confirmed that the suspects were a father and son, with the father originating from Hyderabad, India, and the son born in Australia.
“When the incident happened, certain media outlets were very quick to claim that one attacker was from Pakistan,” Tarar said. “There was no evidence, no documentation and no verification, yet these claims were circulated widely.”
He stated that Indian and Israeli media outlets and social media platforms played a significant role in spreading the false narrative, calling the campaign “deeply unfortunate”.
Pakistan’s Sacrifices Against Terrorism Highlighted
Tarar underscored Pakistan’s long-standing role as a frontline state in the global fight against terrorism. He reminded audiences of the December 16, 2014 Army Public School attack in Peshawar, where 147 people, including 132 students, lost their lives.
“Pakistan is a country whose children have laid down their lives in the war against terrorism,” he said. “It is painful that such a false campaign was run against a nation that has suffered immensely.”
He reiterated that no credible source or authority had produced any evidence to support claims linking Pakistan to the Bondi Beach attackers.
Criticism of International Media Outlets
The information minister said the disinformation campaign appeared to be deliberate and expressed disappointment that reputable international media organizations amplified unverified claims.
“These media houses have editorial boards, hierarchies and verification mechanisms,” Tarar said. “Yet they failed to uphold the basic norms of journalism.”
He added that Indian police later issued an official statement confirming that one suspect was from Hyderabad, India. According to Tarar, the Indian embassy in Sydney had issued the suspect’s passport.
Evidence Presented Against Disinformation
Tarar further revealed that Philippine authorities had confirmed the suspect’s travel to the Philippines using an Indian passport, further disproving claims of Pakistani involvement.
“In light of these facts, I don’t understand why this campaign was launched,” he said. “But it is extremely unfortunate.”
The minister concluded the briefing by playing a video presentation, which he said documented how the misinformation campaign unfolded and identified the media outlets involved.
