Web desk: Australia has denied imposing a visa ban on Pakistani nationals following the deadly Bondi Beach attack after a misleading AI-generated video went viral.
A video circulating on social media falsely claims that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has suspended visas for all Pakistanis following the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach.
The six-second clip was generated using AI. It misrepresents Albanese’s statements and has been widely shared on platforms like Facebook and X.
The video shows Albanese apparently saying, “Pakistani-origin terrorist Naveed Akram has been arrested in today’s terror attack. Australia is suspending all visa services for Pakistanis effective immediately.”
However, analysis of the clip revealed mismatched lip movements and odd, stilted speech.
Additionally, it also has a voice that does not even match Albanese’s. These are all major indicators that the video is AI-generated.
ऑस्ट्रेलिया के प्रधानमंत्री ने पाकिस्तानी इस्लामिक आतंकवादी द्वारा हमले के बाद सभी पाकिस्तानियों का वीज़ा रद्द करने का फ़ैसला लिया है। पूरी दुनिया इस कौम से परेशान है, और भारत में कहा जाता है कि अब्दुल हिंदुओं के मोहल्ले में घर क्यों नहीं ख़रीद सकता।@KarishmaAziz_ @azizkavish… pic.twitter.com/PMkHLKFfGO
— 𝙼𝚛 𝚃𝚢𝚊𝚐𝚒 (@mktyaggi) December 14, 2025
AFP confirms no visa ban for Pakistanis
A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Home Affairs confirmed to AFP on December 19 that no changes have been made to visa services for Pakistani applicants.
There have also been no official reports identifying the accused attackers as Pakistani nationals.
The attack at Bondi Beach on December 14 left 15 people dead. The father, Sajid Akram, was killed in a police shootout, while the son, Naveed, survived.
Australian officials stated that Naveed is an Australian citizen and that the father had arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998.
Indian authorities said Sajid was originally from Hyderabad, India. Albanese had promised a broad crackdown on extremism following the attack.
He gave the home affairs minister new powers to “cancel or reject visas for those who spread hate and division.” However, this does not include a blanket ban on people from Pakistan.
Bondi Beach shooter has Indian roots
Indian media’s anti-Pakistan propaganda regarding the Bondi Beach shooter‘s nationality was exposed as an Indian news outlet, The Print, brought facts to light.
The Indian online newspaper has exposed the anti-Pakistan propaganda by the Indian media that claimed that the Bondi Beach attacker was a Pakistani.
As per the news article, Bondi Beach attacker Sajid Akram moved from India to Australia.
The Bondi Beach shooter had immigrated from India in 1998, while his son was born in Australia, The Print reports.
It further adds, “Sources in the security establishment told ThePrint that Sajid Akram, 50, hailed from Hyderabad in Telangana. Sajid was shot dead by the police at the crime scene on Sunday. His son Naveed Akram had citizenship of Australia, they added.”
