Sindh High Court rejects Nomi Ansari’s plea in tax fraud case
The Sindh High Court has rejected a petition filed by prominent Pakistani fashion designer Nomi Ansari in a high-profile tax fraud case. The court upheld the allegations against Ansari, which include underreporting sales and committing tax fraud, and allowed the case to proceed in the trial court.
In its ruling, the court emphasized that this is not an extraordinary case and that alternative forums cannot be bypassed. The judges noted that the petitioner may file a request for acquittal in the trial court, but the legal proceedings against him will continue as per the proper judicial process.
This decision comes months after a criminal case was filed against Ansari by Pakistan’s tax authorities.
In April 2025, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) charged Ansari and three associates with evading over Rs1.2 billion in taxes by concealing more than Rs1.3 billion in sales from 2018 to 2025. The charges named Ansari’s aides Hussain Kazmi, Syed Ali Mesum Naqvi, and Imran Musel, accusing them of falsifying records, underreporting sales, and routing foreign payments through informal channels.
According to Independent Pakistan, the case emerged after FBR officials detected discrepancies in Ansari’s tax filings, where reported sales did not match actual purchases.
In February 2025, authorities conducted court-sanctioned raids on Ansari’s business premises, uncovering evidence including voucher books, bank slips, remittance records, and computer files. Officials allege that Ansari maintained two separate accounting records, one showing actual sales and another significantly understated version for tax filings.
Revenue streams under scrutiny included retail sales at Ansari’s Karachi showroom, wholesale orders through M/s Cresset Strategic Partners, and cash-settled foreign transactions, all allegedly underreported. The total evaded tax was initially calculated at Rs239.7 million, later ballooning to Rs1.22 billion with penalties.
No arrests were made as Ansari was granted protective bail by the provincial high court, earlier. His legal team has claimed procedural errors and overreach by the FBR, while authorities maintain that the prosecution was justified given the evidence.
Nomi Ansari is one of Pakistan’s most celebrated fashion designers, known for his bright, intricate, and heavily embroidered designs.
He has dressed numerous celebrities and socialites and is widely recognized for both bridal and prêt collections showcased at major fashion weeks.
Ansari operates a high-profile brand from Karachi and has been active in the industry since 2012. His work has earned him accolades and a reputation for bold, luxurious designs. Off the runway, he is admired for promoting Pakistani craftsmanship, mentoring young designers, and elevating the country’s fashion industry on both national and international stages.