A terrorist attack on the shores of Sydney has left multiple people dead, triggering an immediate wave of misleading and baseless propaganda by certain foreign media outlets seeking to falsely implicate Pakistan.
Following the tragic incident, Israeli and Indian media, along with affiliated social media accounts, attempted to associate the attackers with Pakistan without any factual basis. The Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post, in a clear example of agenda-driven reporting, identified the perpetrators as Pakistani despite the absence of verified evidence. Similarly, social media accounts linked to India’s intelligence agency, RAW, launched a targeted campaign to malign Pakistan’s image internationally.
This orchestrated campaign mirrors the false-flag propaganda tactics often employed by India, wherein allegations are made prior to the collection of facts, aiming to mislead public perception. In contrast, verified records from Pakistan indicate that there is no evidence to support claims that Sajid Akram or Naveed Akram are Pakistani nationals.
If the father-son duo were indeed Pakistani, questions arise over the absence of any information regarding their family in Pakistan even after considerable time. Australian authorities have confirmed that the Pakistani community in Australia has not provided any information to support claims of their Pakistani identity.
Indian media and affiliated social media accounts have also falsely alleged that Sajid Akram entered Australia on a tourist visa. In reality, Sajid Akram arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which was later converted to a partner visa in 2001 after marrying an Australian national named Warina. Australian Home Minister Tony Burke has confirmed these facts, verifying the actual timeline and visa status.
Sajid Akram has been a registered member of an Australian gun club for the past decade, and six licensed firearms were recovered from him. In addition, narratives created by Israeli, Indian, and foreign-based PTI-affiliated social media accounts regarding a Pakistani named Naveed Akram have been exposed as false by the individual himself through social media.
Investigations further indicate that Sajid Akram’s family origins are linked to Nangarhar province in Afghanistan. Experts note that terrorism is a global issue, and Afghanistan has become a hub for extremist activity. The modus operandi used during the Sydney attack bears similarities to patterns observed in previous attacks carried out by the Afghan Taliban.
This incident highlights the dangers of premature and politically motivated accusations against Pakistan, which continues to act responsibly both regionally and globally. The Pakistani government urges the international community and media outlets to rely on verified facts rather than agenda-driven narratives that risk misleading public perception.
Pakistan remains committed to fighting terrorism and strongly condemns any attempt to exploit tragic incidents for geopolitical propaganda.
