Many users, most appearing pro-PTI based on earlier posts, have shared a comment attributed to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on social media platforms X and Facebook since July 3, 2026, in which he defends the alleged grandson of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in a rape case involving two foreign nationals. However, Tarar said no such thing and the image featuring a quote attributed to him is falsified.
On July 2, two foreign women detailed a days-long ordeal involving their alleged kidnapping, extortion of $1 million, 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 senior political figure, were arrested and then placed in pre-trial detention for five days.
The complainant-victim, a citizen of the Netherlands, made her voluntary statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure following an investigation registered through 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, Deputy Inspector General (Operations) of Lahore, Faisal Kamran, said that one of the suspects, identified as Mohammad Raza Dar, was believed to have links to the Deputy Prime Minister. However, no credible source or official identified the suspect as a grandson of FM Dar.
HOW IT STARTED
On July 3, an apparently pro-PTI account, common an image on X, claiming that it shows Tarar’s statement on the case, in which he defended FM Dar’s grandson in a rape case.
The statement in the visual reads, “Raza Dar is young, such mistakes happen in youth. If he committed rape, it’s not the end of the world. If CCD (Crime Control Department) lets a few people escape, what is the problem with social media?”
The post was captioned: “But that was the last thing I needed to hear. I told you, didn’t I, how shameless these people are.”
The post has been viewed 42,400 times.
The same claim and the same visual were shared on Facebook, as we can see here, here, hereAnd here; on X as we can see here, here, hereAnd here.
Methodology
A fact check was launched to determine the veracity of this claim due to intense public interest in the case.
A keyword search was conducted to check whether credible Pakistani media outlets had recently reported Tarar’s comments; however, this yielded no results.
An advanced keyword search on Azad Digitala Pakistani digital media outlet, dated May 2, 2025. The text of 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 president, but there is more patriotism in my blood.” »
The image has the same barcode as the viral photo. Upon inspection, it was found that the barcode contained publication ARY Newsdated May 2, 2025.
THE ARY News publish 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 quoted.
“Omar Ayub’s grandfather was president of Pakistan, just like my grandfather, but patriotism runs in my blood,” he said, proving that his statement was made in a completely different political context and has no relation to Dar’s grandson or the recent rape case.
A comparison of the viral image with the authentic image Azad Digital the messages also revealed visual discrepancies. The font style and size used in the viral graphic differs from Azad Digital‘s standard typography and formatting, suggesting the viral image has been digitally altered.
Fact Check Status: False
The claim that a viral image shows comments made by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar in defense of FM Dar’s alleged grandson and his involvement in a rape case is FAKE.
The viral visual is falsified and Tarar made no such remarks.
