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Attaullah Tarar Rejects False Claims Linking Pakistan to Bondi Beach Attack
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has rejected claims linking Pakistan to the Bondi Beach shooting, calling it a deliberate misinformation campaign by hostile countries and urging global media to verify facts before reporting.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-17
Attaullah Tarar Rejects False Claims Linking Pakistan to Bondi Beach Attack

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday strongly rejected claims that one of the attackers involved in the deadly Bondi Beach shooting in Australia was from Pakistan, terming it a “false and organised misinformation campaign” allegedly driven by hostile countries to malign Pakistan.

Addressing a media briefing in Islamabad, Tarar said that immediately after the tragic attack, which killed 16 people including one of the attackers, certain media outlets hastily reported that one of the assailants was Pakistani, despite the absence of any evidence, documentation, or verification.

He clarified that it was later confirmed that the suspects were a father-son duo, with the father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, belonging to India, while the son, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, was born in Australia. Tarar noted that Indian police had issued an official press release confirming the suspect’s Indian origin and that the Indian embassy in Sydney had issued him a passport, which he also used to travel to the Philippines.

“When the incident happened, there was no proof, no verification, yet a campaign was launched to malign Pakistan,” Tarar said, alleging that the narrative was amplified primarily through media and social media platforms in India and Israel.

The minister expressed disappointment that even reputed international media outlets became part of what he described as a disinformation campaign, failing to follow basic journalistic principles. He stressed that established editorial systems exist precisely to prevent the spread of unverified information, yet those safeguards were ignored.

Highlighting Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, Tarar recalled the 2014 Army Public School massacre in Peshawar, in which 147 people, including 132 children, were martyred. “We are a nation whose children have laid down their lives in this war against terrorism. It is deeply unfortunate that a false campaign was run against Pakistan,” he said.

Tarar praised Australian authorities for acting responsibly and refraining from assigning blame until investigations were completed. He questioned how the reputational damage caused to Pakistan would be addressed, asking whether apologies would be issued or legal action considered against those who spread false information.

The minister also alleged Indian involvement in terrorism within Pakistan, citing what he termed “irrefutable evidence” of Indian-backed militant activities in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He linked the issue to broader concerns, including alleged transnational assassinations such as the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Reiterating Pakistan’s stance, Tarar said the country condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations and stands for peace. He urged global media to act responsibly, verify information, and “pin the blame where it truly lies.”

Earlier, Tarar condemned the Bondi Beach shooting as “highly condemnable” and expressed solidarity with the Australian government and people. He also lauded Australian citizen Ahmed al Ahmed, who bravely disarmed one of the attackers and saved multiple lives, calling him a hero.
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