Pakistan Denies Claims Linking Bondi Beach Shooting Suspect to Country

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday rejected what he described as a coordinated disinformation campaign falsely linking one of the suspects in the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia to Pakistan, saying the claims were spread by “hostile countries” and amplified by unverified media reports.

Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad, Tarar said that shortly after the deadly attack, in which 16 people were killed, several media outlets and social media platforms circulated allegations that one of the attackers was Pakistani, despite the absence of any official confirmation.

“These reports were published without verification, documentation, or evidence, and caused significant reputational harm to Pakistan,” Tarar said, adding that the misinformation was particularly amplified across platforms in India and Israel. 

He noted that Australian authorities later clarified that the suspects were a father and son, identifying the father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, as an Indian national, while his 24-year-old son was born in Australia.

Tarar stressed that Pakistani authorities found no link between the suspects and Pakistan.

The information minister criticised international media outlets for failing to adhere to basic journalistic standards, urging them to verify facts before publication. “Established editorial structures exist to prevent such errors, yet they were bypassed in this case,” he said.

Tarar praised Australian law enforcement for conducting a professional investigation and refraining from speculation while facts were being established. He also raised the possibility of diplomatic or legal measures to address what he called deliberate misinformation targeting Pakistan.

Reiterating Pakistan’s stance against terrorism, Tarar said the country has paid a heavy price in combating extremism, citing major attacks such as the **2014 Army Public School massacre** as evidence of Pakistan’s long-standing fight against militant violence.

He further renewed Islamabad’s allegations that India supports militant activity inside Pakistan, claims that New Delhi has consistently denied, adding that the issue remains a point of contention between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The remarks come amid heightened concern in Islamabad over international narratives related to terrorism, as Pakistan continues efforts to counter what it says are misleading portrayals of the country in global media.