Federal Minister for Information Ataullah Tarar on Wednesday said a coordinated disinformation and propaganda campaign was launched against Pakistan following the shooting incident at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

Speaking to foreign media, Tarar said the tragic incident was used to malign Pakistan, even though the government had clearly condemned the attack from the outset.

“A false and deliberate misinformation campaign was launched from hostile countries to malign Pakistan,” said Tarar while briefing the foreign media.

The minister called the Bondi Beach attack on December 14 “a very sad and highly condemnable incident”.

Alleged gunmen, Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, had opened fire during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

The attack killed at least 15 people, including a rabbi who was a father of five, a Holocaust survivor and a 10-year-old girl, Matilda Britvan, while two police officers remained in critical but stable condition, according to New South Wales police.

Tarar noted that the President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also expressed deep grief and sympathy with the victims.

The information minister said that immediately after the incident, sections of international media carried unverified and misleading reports, baselessly attempting to link the attackers to Pakistan without evidence.

He added that some well-known media organisations also became part of the disinformation drive, ignoring journalistic standards, fact-checking, and editorial responsibility.

Tarar said Indian media and social media platforms, in particular, rushed to level allegations against Pakistan in connection with the Bondi Beach incidents, despite the absence of independent verification. He expressed regret that even channels considered credible contributed to the spread of false narratives.

During the briefing, the minister presented videos to international media highlighting what he described as a negative campaign against Pakistan.

He said Australian police had confirmed that the suspect in the Bondi incident belonged to Hyderabad in India’s Telangana state, adding that investigations had also revealed the suspects had travelled to the Philippines prior to the incident.

Tarar said Pakistan itself has suffered from terrorism for decades, recalling that December 16, the day of the Army Public School (APS) tragedy, remains a deeply painful memory for the nation due to the killing of innocent children.

He reiterated that Pakistan has consistently condemned terrorism and will continue to do so as a responsible state.

He said modern tools make it possible to accurately establish identities, and praised Australian authorities for demonstrating responsibility in their investigation.

The minister said that the Indian media was using various tactics to defame Pakistan, claiming India lacked a credible narrative beyond accusations.

Tarar further said that evidence was available linking India to the support and financing of militant groups operating inside Pakistan.

He said Pakistan has played a frontline role in the global fight against terrorism and has made significant sacrifices.

The information minister questioned who would be held accountable for damaging Pakistan’s image through unverified reporting, and how the allegations levelled against the country would be rectified.

He also referred to the treatment of minorities in India, calling for greater international attention to those issues.