The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against renowned fashion designer Nomi Ansari, accusing him of committing sales tax fraud exceeding Rs1.2 billion.
The FIR, lodged in Karachi on April 18, charges Ansari — owner of his self-named fashion label — under multiple sections of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, including Section 2(37) for tax fraud. Additional violations include failing to issue proper tax invoices, deposit due taxes, and maintain accurate records, among others. Ansari has yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
According to the FIR, Ansari declared taxable sales without corresponding purchases — “reflecting zero purchases” despite the business’s nature — and bank information indicated suspicious remittance activity and unrecorded cash deposits. The FBR further claimed he under-declared sales proceeds and submitted false documentation.
On February 20, the bureau obtained warrants and raided three locations linked to Ansari. These included two declared commercial premises and one previously undeclared manufacturing unit in Karachi’s Mehran Town. The FBR said seized documents confirmed the business’s large scale and revealed suppressed sales volumes.
Three others — Hussain Kazmi, Syed Ali Massum Naqvi, and Imran Musel — were also named in the case. The FBR maintains that the accused are prosecutable under Section 37A of the Sales Tax Act. Investigations remain ongoing.
