ISLAMABAD, Dec 17 (APP): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday strongly rejected what he described as a deliberate and baseless online campaign accusing Pakistan of links to a suspect in the recent Sydney beach incident.

Speaking to foreign media, he voiced deep regret over a disinformation campaign by certain media outlets attempting to link Pakistan to the Sydney incident, saying the narrative originating in India was deliberately crafted to malign Pakistan.

He said it was unfortunate to target a nation that has served as a frontline state in the fight against terrorism and has made significant sacrifices in that struggle. He reiterated that Pakistan stands for peace and condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Minister Information praised Australian authorities for conducting their investigation professionally despite the disinformation campaign, noting that they did not cast any unwarranted suspicions on Pakistan. He added that it is now clear the attacker was an Indian national who had travelled on an Indian passport.

He said social media users and certain international outlets had circulated a wave of disinformation against Pakistan following the Sydney beach attack, despite the absence of any evidence connecting the country to the event.

Attaullah Tarar said no credible news channel had verified claims linking Pakistan to the incident, yet some outlets still became part of the disinformation campaign.

He expressed regret that even reputable channels failed to uphold editorial standards and amplified unverified narratives about the Bondi Beach attack. He pointed out that Australian police had confirmed the suspect was from Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

The minister screened a video claiming to show how the campaign was conducted and which media outlets participated. Following the presentation, he described the effort as highly coordinated, noting that it “spread like wildfire” and that no editorial board, management, or reporter appeared to question the origins of the information.

Tarar said Pakistan has lost more than 90,000 lives in its fight against terrorism, yet continues to face unfounded accusations aimed at undermining its reputation. He added that anti-Pakistan propaganda was spread without verification, particularly across Indian media and social media platforms, and noted that the campaign began almost immediately after the incident with the apparent aim of maligning Pakistan.

The minister recalled that the Government of Pakistan had promptly condemned the Sydney incident, with both the President and the Prime Minister expressing sorrow over the tragedy at Bondi Beach.

He criticised the haste with which accusations were levelled against Pakistan, noting that Indian media and online accounts began assigning blame within minutes despite the absence of any evidence.

Questioning the circulation of unverified reports, the minister asked who would be held responsible for the damage caused to Pakistan’s reputation and sought clarity on how such baseless allegations would be addressed. He said those who spread false information should issue a formal apology.

Referring to India’s involvement in transnational assassination plots, including the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada, the Information Minister said there was irrefutable evidence of Indian-sponsored terrorism inside Pakistan.

He claimed India was not only financing militant groups operating in Pakistan but was also linked to attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He added that various forms of extremism were being actively promoted within India.

Quoting a press release from Indian authorities, the minister said the Sydney incident suspect was confirmed to be an Indian national. Police records cited in the statement showed that his passport had been issued by India and that he had previously travelled to the Philippines using the same document.

“It is deeply regrettable that such a campaign was launched without any verification,” Tarar said. “What is even more concerning is that some well-established international media outlets echoed these claims without adhering to basic journalistic standards.”

The minister also noted that the campaign emerged on December 16, a national day of mourning marking the anniversary of the 2014 Army Public School attack in Peshawar. He said such allegations were especially distressing on a day dedicated to honouring the children who lost their lives in the fight against terrorism.

He reiterated that Pakistan has long served as a frontline state in the global fight against terrorism and continues to make substantial sacrifices in that effort. Tarar urged international media organisations to uphold professional standards and verify information before publication.