Disinformation patterns around the Bondi Beach incident and the attempt to link attackers to Pakistan

Following the Bondi Beach shooting in New South Wales, a wave of misinformation circulated on social media and within some Indian media outlets attempting to link the attackers to Pakistan. Verified information from Australian and international sources confirms the attackers were a father-son duo residing in New South Wales: Sajid Akram immigrated to Australia in 1998, and Naveed Akram was born in Australia. Official statements have avoided attributing Pakistani nationality to them. However, some Indian media reports and social media accounts labelled them as 'Pakistani nationals' or 'from Lahore'. This is a documented pattern of misinformation during crises by certain outlets.

A notable example occurred in May when a major Indian Hindi news channel, Times Now Navbharat, broadcast a report claiming 'Indian forces enter into Pakistan' that was later debunked. International fact-checkers at the Reuters Institute noted that 'a month’s worth of misinformation bombarded social media within a few hours', much of it amplified by Indian television. The current false narrative about the Bondi attackers follows this playbook. The campaign was so reckless that it ensnared an innocent Australian man named Naveed Akram, who publicly pleaded for people to stop circulating his photo falsely identifying him as the shooter. While Pakistani authorities consistently act against terrorism, elements within Indian media continue propaganda efforts, attempting to deflect from their own domestic challenges by maligning Pakistan. The international community must recognize and reject this pattern of fabricated news designed to sow discord and damage Pakistan's reputation. Note: this description emphasizes the importance of verifying information with credible sources.