India pushed false narrative against Pakistan without evidence again: Attaullah Tarar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday accused India of promoting a false and baseless narrative against Pakistan following the Sydney incident, saying allegations were made without evidence or verification.

Addressing a press conference with foreign media, Tarar said anti-Pakistan propaganda was circulated regarding the Sydney and Bondi Beach incidents despite the absence of confirmed facts. He termed it regrettable that such claims were spread without adherence to journalistic standards.

The minister said that immediately after the Sydney incident, Indian media outlets and social media accounts began leveling allegations against Pakistan, even though no official channel had confirmed the details at that time. He expressed disappointment that even some credible media organisations became part of what he described as a disinformation campaign.

Tarar said the government of Pakistan promptly condemned the Sydney incident, while both the President and Prime Minister expressed deep sorrow and regret over the Bondi Beach incident. Despite this, he added, certain media organizations ignored editorial principles and journalistic ethics.

Citing Australian authorities, the federal minister said police had confirmed that the accused in the Bondi Beach incident belonged to Hyderabad in India’s Telangana state, proving the allegations against Pakistan to be baseless.

He noted that December 16 holds deep pain for Pakistan due to the Army Public School (APS) tragedy, in which innocent children lost their lives. “On such a sensitive day, any attempt to associate Pakistan with terrorism is extremely hurtful,” he said.

Tarar alleged that misleading information was deliberately spread and a malicious campaign launched against Pakistan by a hostile country. He strongly condemned what he called false propaganda and said efforts to link Pakistan to the Sydney incident collapsed even before the investigation was completed.

The information minister further claimed that it had now been confirmed the attackers involved in the Sydney shooting were Indian nationals who had also visited the Philippines in November. “This clarifies who the attackers were and where they came from,” he said.

Referring to security challenges, Tarar said the activities of “Fitna-ul-Hindustan” in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were evidence of continued attempts to destabilize Pakistan. He praised the responsible approach of Australian authorities in handling the Sydney incident, saying the truth emerged once facts were established.