Irfan Ahsan accused of refusing refund after bride’s death

LAHORE: Pakistani photographer Irfan Ahson is facing criticism online after a viral claim alleged that he refused to refund advance wedding payment money to a grieving family following the death of a bride before her wedding.

The allegation was shared by Naeem Hanif, who recounted the incident on social media while referring to Ahson’s reputation as a well-known celebrity photographer who has covered high-profile events, including the wedding of Junaid Safdar.

According to Hanif, the photographer had received an advance payment of Rs1.5 million for a wedding shoot. However, tragedy reportedly struck before the event when the bride passed away.

Hanif claimed that the family later approached Ahson requesting that he retain a reasonable amount for any incurred expenses while refunding the remaining advance due to the exceptional circumstances.

However, according to Hanif, the photographer allegedly refused. “We do not return payments,” he was quoted as saying.

The claim quickly spread across social media, triggering anger and debate among users, many of whom questioned the ethics of refusing a refund under such circumstances.

Several users described the alleged response as insensitive given the tragedy involved, while others argued that professional policies should allow flexibility in cases involving death or emergencies.

The controversy gained further traction because Irfan Ahson is a widely recognised figure in Pakistan’s photography industry and has previously been awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz for his contributions to the field.

As of now, no public response or clarification has been issued by the photographer regarding the viral allegations.