Sydney Incident: Organized Disinformation and Propaganda Campaign Launched Against Pakistan, Says Information Minister
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said that following the shooting incident in Sydney, an organized campaign of disinformation and propaganda was launched against Pakistan, aimed at maligning the country despite Pakistan’s clear and immediate condemnation of the tragic event.
Speaking to foreign media on Wednesday, Attaullah Tarar said that the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan had expressed deep sorrow and condolences over the Sydney shooting and conveyed sympathy with the victims and their families.
The information minister said that soon after the incident, sections of international media carried unverified and misleading reports, attempting to baselessly link the attackers to Pakistan without any evidence. He noted that journalistic ethics, fact-checking, and editorial responsibility were ignored in the rush to assign blame.
According to Tarar, even some well-known and otherwise credible media organizations became part of the disinformation campaign. He said that Indian media and social media platforms, in particular, were quick to accuse Pakistan in connection with the Sydney and Bondi Beach incidents without any independent verification.
During the briefing, the minister presented videos to the international media highlighting what he described as a coordinated negative campaign against Pakistan. He stated that Australian police have confirmed that the suspect involved in the Bondi incident belonged to Hyderabad, Telangana, India, and investigations also revealed that the suspects had traveled to the Philippines prior to the incident.
Attaullah Tarar emphasized that Pakistan itself has suffered from terrorism for decades, recalling tragic events such as the December 16 APS attack, which remains a deeply painful memory for the nation due to the brutal killing of innocent children. He said Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all its forms and will continue to do so as a responsible state.
The information minister added that in the modern era, advanced methods exist to verify identities, and he praised Australian authorities for conducting a responsible and transparent investigation into the Bondi incident.
He further alleged that Indian media continues to employ various tactics to defame Pakistan, claiming that India lacks a credible narrative other than leveling accusations against Pakistan. Tarar also asserted that evidence exists regarding terrorist activities inside Pakistan and accused India of supporting and financing militant groups operating within the country.
Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan has been on the front lines of the global war against terrorism and has made immense sacrifices in this struggle. Concluding his remarks, he questioned who would be held accountable for damaging Pakistan’s image through false and unverified reporting and how the harm caused by such allegations would be addressed.
He also drew attention to the treatment of minorities in India, urging the international community to take notice of these issues as well.
