SYDNEY: Following the terrorist attack in Australia’s city of Sydney, India — which was quick to level accusations against Pakistan — has itself come under scrutiny in connection with the incident.
According to sources, the main suspects involved in the attack have links to India. A close associate of Naveed Akram has also confirmed that the attackers were of Indian origin.
Sources say that attempts by Indian media and social media accounts to associate the incident with Pakistan were misleading and not supported by evidence. Investigations so far have found no proof connecting the suspects to Pakistan.
The revelations have raised serious questions over the propaganda campaign launched immediately after the attack, as authorities continue to probe the background and affiliations of those involved.
Alleged attempts by Indian and Israeli media outlets to link the recent Sydney terror attack to Pakistan have fallen apart, as emerging details indicate that one of the attackers, Sajid Akram, did not have any verified connection to Pakistan.
The deadly attack in Sydney on Sunday left 16 people dead and around 40 injured. One attacker was shot dead by police, while the second suspect was arrested in an injured condition and remains under medical treatment.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, several Indian and Israeli media organizations and social media accounts attempted to associate the attack with Pakistan. An Israeli newspaper reportedly described the attackers as Pakistani, while social media accounts linked to India’s intelligence-linked networks also amplified similar claims.
However, sources say that Pakistani official records contain no evidence confirming that Sajid Akram or Naveed Akram are Pakistani nationals. Pakistani officials in Australia have also stated that the local Pakistani community has no information supporting claims of their Pakistani origin.
According to sources, claims circulated by Indian media suggesting Sajid Akram traveled to Australia on a tourist visa are factually incorrect. Records indicate that he arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which was later converted into a partner visa in 2001 following his marriage to an Australian woman named Warina. These details were reportedly confirmed by Australia’s Home Minister Tony Burke.
Further information reveals that Sajid Akram had been a member of an Australian gun club for over 10 years and possessed six licensed firearms. There are unverified reports suggesting his roots may trace back to Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, though no official confirmation has been issued.
Australian investigative authorities have not released any statement linking the attackers to Pakistan. Additionally, a colleague of Naveed Akram stated in a video message that his mother is Italian and his father is Indian.
It is also recalled that Indian media had earlier aired photographs of an Australian-based Pakistani citizen, Sheikh Naveed, falsely identifying him as the Sydney attacker. Sheikh Naveed later released a video statement categorically denying any involvement and exposing what he described as misleading propaganda.
Investigations into the Sydney attack are ongoing, while officials continue to urge restraint against unverified claims and misinformation surrounding the incident.
