Multiple users, most of whom appear to be pro-PTI based on previous posts, have been sharing a comment attributed to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on social media platforms However, Tarar said no such thing and the image showing a quote attributed to him is doctored.
On July 2, two foreign women detailed a multi-day ordeal involving their alleged kidnapping, million-dollar extortion, physical assault, and sexual abuse. Police arrested five suspects for alleged kidnapping and sexual assault after the two women were rescued. Four of the suspects, including a close relative of a prominent political personality, were arrested and subsequently sent to physical remand for five days.
The complainant-victim, a citizen of the Netherlands, gave her voluntary statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure following an investigation registered under a First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Defense Police Station C. The charges include serious offenses under Sections 375-A (Rape) and 365-A (Kidnapping for Extortion) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
On July 5, Lahore Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Faisal Kamran said one of the suspects, identified as Mohammad Raza Dar, was believed to have links with the deputy prime minister. However, no credible source or official has identified the suspect as FM Dar’s grandson.
HOW IT STARTED
On July 3, an account that appeared to be pro-PTI, shared an X image, claiming to show Tarar’s statement on the case, in which he defended FM Dar’s grandson in a rape case.
The statement in the image reads: “Raza Dar is young, such mistakes happen in youth. If he committed rape, it is not the end of the world. If CCD (Crime Control Department) is letting some people go free, what is the problem with social media?”
The post was titled: “But this was the last thing I needed to hear. I told you, didn’t I, how shameless these people are.”
The publication obtained 42,400 visits.
The same claim and visual were shared on Facebook, as you can see. here, here, hereand here; in X as you can see here, here, hereand here.
Methodology
A fact check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to high public interest in the case.
A keyword search was conducted to check whether any credible Pakistani media outlets had recently reported on Tarar’s comments; however, it did not return any results.
An advanced keyword search on X turned up a similar post shared by Azad Digitala Pakistani digital media outlet, dated May 2, 2025. The text on the image, a quote attributed to the Minister of Information, reads: “Omer Ayub’s grandfather was the president of Pakistan, and my grandfather was also the president, but there is more patriotism in my blood.”
The image has the same barcode as the viral photo. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the barcode had an ARY Newsdated May 2, 2025.
He ARY News publish featured images from one of the channel’s talk shows, Khabar Muhammad Malick Kay Saath. In the clip, Tarar can be heard making the same comments as Azad Digital aforementioned.
“Omar Ayub’s grandfather was president of Pakistan, as was my grandfather, but patriotism runs in my blood,” he said, proving that his statement was made in a completely different political context and had no relation to Dar’s grandson or the recent rape case.
A comparison of the viral image with the authentic one. Azad Digital The posts also revealed visual discrepancies. The font style and size used in the viral graphic differ from Azad DigitalTypography and formatting are standard, suggesting that the viral image was digitally altered.
Fact Check Status: False
The claim that a viral image shows comments made by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar in defense of Minister Dar’s alleged grandson and his involvement in a rape case is FAKE.
The viral image is manipulated and Tarar made no such comments.
