SHC Issues Contempt Notice to FBR Officials

Karachi, August 13, 2025, 03:46 PM PKT — The Sindh High Court (SHC) has delivered a stern rebuke, issuing contempt notices on Tuesday to senior Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials, including Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Zahid Masood, Commissioner Rizwan Memon, and Assistant Commissioner Sehrish Javed Mirza, in a case filed by fashion designer Nomi Ansari, as per official proceedings. The two-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar, ordered the Advocate General and Prosecutor General of Sindh to launch legal action, adjourning the case to August 20 for charge framing, amid allegations of tax fraud that led to an FIR and Ansari’s placement on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Ansari’s legal team argued that, despite a court order to maintain status quo, his name was added to the Passport Control List (PCL) on June 9, blocking his travel to a U.S. exhibition, prompting the bench’s criticism of the FBR’s attempt to bypass judicial orders and rush criminal proceedings before civil adjudication. FBR counsel Zahid Ibrahim sought more time, but the court pressed forward, condemning the FBR and federal government’s unjustified actions. Web context on tax disputes shows prior judicial tensions, while posts found on X reflect outrage—some demand accountability, others suspect targeting. Critically, the narrative of “enforcement action” may mask judicial overreach concerns—web data hints at past conflicts, and X sentiment suggests distrust in fair process, pointing to potential escalation.