Sherry Rehman Urges FATF to Probe India Over Alleged Terrorism Financing and Growing Support

Sherry Rehman Calls on FATF to Investigate Alleged Terror Support from India After Bondi Beach Attack

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Vice President and Senator Sherry Rehman on Wednesday urged the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to investigate what she described as “growing support” from India for terrorist groups, following revelations that an Indian national was involved in the recent Bondi Beach mass shooting in Australia.

The deadly attack took place on Sunday during a Jewish holiday gathering at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, leaving 15 people dead and sending shockwaves across Australia amid rising concerns over terrorism, extremism, and anti-Semitism.

According to Australian authorities, the alleged attackers were father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram. Sajid, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene, while his 24-year-old son Naveed survived after emerging from a coma on Tuesday. Police later confirmed that Sajid Akram was originally from Hyderabad, India, adding that his family was unaware of his “radical mindset”.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Senator Rehman said the incident raised serious questions about links to New Delhi, especially as Indian and Israeli allegations of Pakistani involvement were “backfiring at warp speed”.

“Perhaps the FATF should also look into growing support from India for terrorist groups operating internationally. The fingerprints are piling up,” she wrote, tagging the global anti-terror financing watchdog.

Rehman also highlighted that despite the suspects being Muslim, the man who disarmed one of the attackers was himself a Muslim immigrant, later hailed as a hero by Australian authorities. She warned against politicising the attack through identity narratives.

“The Bondi attack is being redirected away from its core intent — terrorism — and turned into an identity politics issue,” she said, adding that the surge in Islamophobia following the incident was “plain wrong”.

“It is wrong to attack innocent people on any strip of beach or faith, whether that be Bondi or Gaza,” she added.

Meanwhile, New South Wales Police confirmed on Wednesday that Naveed Akram has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and terrorism-related charges.

“Police will allege the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and instil fear in the community,” police said in a statement, adding that early indications suggest the attack was inspired by ISIS, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Australia.

Separately, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said false claims were deliberately spread after the attack, alleging that one of the perpetrators was Pakistani.

“When the incident occurred, certain media outlets quickly claimed one attacker was from Pakistan without evidence or verification,” Tarar said during a press briefing in Islamabad.

“We know this misinformation campaign was launched from hostile countries to malign Pakistan,” he added.