Ataullah Tarar condemns Bondi Beach misinformation campaign against Pakistan during a detailed briefing with foreign media in Islamabad. The federal information minister strongly rejected claims that tried to link Pakistan to the tragic shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, calling the narrative false, deliberate, and politically motivated.
Tarar described the Bondi Beach attack on December 14 as a deeply painful and condemnable act of violence. Attackers opened fire during a Jewish Hanukkah gathering, killing 15 people. Victims included a rabbi, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl, Matilda Britvan. Two police officers suffered critical injuries but remained stable. Tarar said such brutality deserved global condemnation, not exploitation for propaganda.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and the Pakistani government immediately condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Australia. He reminded journalists that Pakistan understands terrorism’s pain better than many nations due to years of bloodshed at home.
Tarar praised a Syrian-origin Australian citizen who overpowered one attacker and saved many lives. He called the act brave and selfless.
Ataullah Tarar condemns Bondi Beach misinformation campaign against Pakistan by pointing directly at certain foreign media outlets. He said some platforms falsely claimed one attacker belonged to Lahore without proof, records, or verification. He noted that the false story spread rapidly across Indian and Israeli media and social platforms.
He stressed that Pakistan has stood at the frontline of the global war on terror. He added that the smear campaign surfaced on the same days Pakistan mourned the APS Peshawar massacre anniversary. On December 16, the nation remembers children killed by terrorists. Tarar called the timing shameful and insensitive.
He said Pakistani society has paid a heavy price in blood, from schoolchildren to soldiers and police officers. He stated that no evidence connected the attacker to Pakistan and called the claims outright fabrication.
Tarar expressed disappointment that reputed international media outlets repeated the claim without basic checks. He said Indian police later confirmed the attacker came from Hyderabad, India. Authorities verified the passport through the Indian embassy in Sydney. Philippine officials also confirmed travel records on the same passport.
He questioned how such errors occurred despite modern databases and facial recognition systems. He praised Australian authorities for waiting for verified facts and avoiding blame.
Tarar asked who would repair Pakistan’s damaged image. He raised the issue of apologies, accountability, and legal consequences. He also cited evidence of Indian involvement in terrorism inside Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, calling the proof clear and documented.