Funoon Revives the Timeless Tradition of Urdu Storytelling Through Dastaangoi

Funoon brought the timeless art of Urdu storytelling closer to a younger audience through a magical evening dedicated to storytelling, imagination, poetry and artistic expression.

The event featured Dastaangoi, the traditional art of Urdu storytelling, offering young participants and audiences an opportunity to reconnect with the richness of their cultural heritage and literary traditions. Through a captivating blend of stories, poetry and performances, the evening created an engaging space where literature and imagination came alive.

The voices of the performers and the powerful stories presented on stage highlighted the enduring appeal of Urdu literature. The event also demonstrated how traditional forms of storytelling can continue to engage younger generations when presented through creative and expressive performances.

The evening served as a celebration of Pakistan's literary and cultural heritage, reminding audiences of the important role that storytelling plays in preserving language, history, imagination and collective memory.

Funoon's initiative provided a meaningful platform for the younger generation to experience Dastaangoi and appreciate the beauty of Urdu storytelling in a contemporary setting.

Disclaimer:

This report has been prepared based on the information and content provided. It is intended for informational and cultural coverage purposes only. The views, descriptions and representations of the event are based on the supplied material, and readers are encouraged to verify specific details with the event organizers or official sources.

Karachi Court Acquits Anmol Alias Pinky in 2021 Drug Case

KARACHI: An Additional District and Sessions Court (South) in Karachi has accepted the acquittal plea of accused Anmol alias Pinky and acquitted her in a drug-related case registered in 2021.

The court announced the decision after examining the case record and hearing arguments from the defence counsel. Anmol had been arrested after previously being declared a proclaimed offender in the case.

According to a private television report, proceedings against Anmol were pending in connection with a case registered at the Guzri Police Station in 2021. Following her arrest, she filed an application seeking acquittal before the court.

During the hearing, the defence counsel argued that two co-accused, Ali and Fahmida, who were also nominated in the same case, had already been acquitted by the court in 2024. The lawyer maintained that their acquittal had weakened the prosecution's case against Anmol.

The defence further submitted that Anmol had allegedly been implicated on the basis of statements made by the co-accused. Since the co-accused had already been acquitted, the counsel argued that there was insufficient legal basis to secure a conviction against Anmol on the same statements.

After hearing the defence arguments and reviewing the available record, the court accepted Anmol alias Pinky's acquittal application and acquitted her from the case.

The court's decision provides legal relief to Anmol in the drug case registered at Guzri Police Station in 2021.

Disclaimer: This report is based on information attributed to a private television report and the court proceedings described therein. The acquittal of Anmol alias Pinky means that she has been legally cleared in the referenced case. The report does not imply guilt, wrongdoing, or criminal liability beyond what was alleged during the proceedings. Karachi Observer does not independently verify every claim contained in third-party reports and presents this information for news and public awareness purposes.

JI Karachi Chief Condemns Abduction and Murder of Young Businessman Mir Raza Ali, Demands Swift Justice

Karachi: Muneem Zafar Khan, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, visited the residence of slain young businessman Mir Raza Ali in Bahadurabad to offer condolences to the bereaved family. He met the victim's father, Mir Hussain, and other family members, expressed profound grief over the tragic incident, and prayed for the departed soul.

Strongly condemning the abduction and subsequent murder of the young businessman, Muneem Zafar Khan criticized the Sindh government and the police for what he described as their failure to protect the lives and property of citizens and the business community. He said Karachi continues to witness incidents of theft, robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes on a daily basis, leaving residents vulnerable to both financial losses and loss of life.

He further stated that despite the prevailing law and order situation, the Sindh government and senior police officials continue to claim that crime has declined in the city, while the ground realities suggest otherwise. He demanded the immediate arrest of all those involved in the kidnapping and murder of Mir Raza Ali and called for strict legal action against the perpetrators. He also urged the authorities to take practical and effective measures to restore peace and improve public security in Karachi.

Muneem Zafar Khan assured the victim's family that Jamaat-e-Islami stands with them in their time of grief and will continue to raise its voice until justice is served.

Speaking on the occasion, Mir Hussain said his only son, Mir Raza Ali, left home on the night of July 28, telling the family he would return shortly. However, he never came back. He added that his son's body was recovered from Gulistan-e-Jauhar the previous day.

According to the bereaved father, Mir Raza Ali had been running his own business for the past five years and was the family's only son. He appealed to the authorities to arrest all those responsible for the murder without delay and ensure they receive the maximum punishment under the law so that the family can obtain justice.

Heatstroke Awareness Campaign by Pakistan Red Crescent

 Karachi, Pakistan - With rising temperatures, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, Sindh Branch, has launched an awareness campaign to educate the public on how to prevent and manage heatstroke.

The campaign emphasizes that "Loo lagna khatarnak hai" (Heatstroke is dangerous). The organization is distributing informational materials, like the one in the image, to help people recognize the symptoms of heatstroke and take appropriate action.

Key steps to take in case of heatstroke, as outlined by the Red Crescent, include:

• Reduce Body Temperature: Use a fan to cool the person down.

• Elevate Legs: Raise the person's legs.

• Apply Cool Compresses: Place cold, wet cloths on the body. Gently rub the body with a towel.

• Hydrate: Give the person water or other hydrating fluids to drink.

• Move to a Cool Place: Lay the person down in a cool and safe environment.

The Pakistan Red Crescent is urging the public to take these precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones from the dangers of heatstroke during the hot weather.

Punjab Government Approves Special Courts Act 2025 to Protect Overseas Pakistanis' Properties

In a landmark move, the Government of Punjab has passed the "Special Courts for Overseas Pakistanis' Properties Act 2025" aimed at ensuring swift and transparent resolution of property-related disputes faced by Pakistanis living abroad. This new legislation is specifically designed to address issues such as illegal possession, tenancy conflicts, and other property matters involving overseas citizens.

Barrister Amjad Malik, Vice Chairman of the Overseas Pakistanis Commission Punjab, hailed the development as a long-awaited step in the right direction. “This law fulfills a longstanding demand of overseas Pakistanis. With e-filing, digital hearings, and decisions expected within 60 to 90 days, swift justice is now a reality,” he stated.

Highlighting the significance of the move, Barrister Malik pointed out that thousands of complaints are currently pending across 41 districts of Punjab, including Lahore. He emphasized that the new initiative will be a major blow to land grabbers and help combat the chronic issue of delays in the judicial system.

Calling the legislation a "welcoming beginning," Barrister Amjad Malik stressed the need for immediate allocation of resources, appointment of trained judges, and the establishment of a transparent system to operationalize these courts effectively. He added that these steps are crucial for restoring the trust of overseas Pakistanis in the justice system.

Ishaq Dar issued a firm directive to the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association

  * Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has issued a firm directive to the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), demanding full compliance with the agreed-upon retail price of sugar. This move aims to stabilize market prices and ensure affordability for consumers across Pakistan.

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 * In a recent high-level meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Dar reviewed the current sugar market situation, focusing on adherence to the previously established price agreement.

 * Dar expressed his satisfaction with the observed downward trend in sugar prices, which he attributed to stringent market oversight and regulatory enforcement.

 * However, he emphasized the necessity of consistent compliance from the PSMA to maintain price stability.

 * The directive mandates that the PSMA ensure retail sugar prices remain at or below the agreed-upon level throughout Pakistan.

 * The governments goal is to protect consumers from price gouging, and to maintain a stable supply of sugar throughout the country.

 * The government is also actively monitoring supply, to make sure that there are no artificial shortages created.

 * The Competition Commision of Pakistan (CCP) is also monitoring the sugar industry, to ensure that there are no anti-competitive practices taking place.

DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE & INVESTIGATION (INLAND REVENUE) LAHORE RECOVERS SALES TAX EVASION WORTH BILLIONS OF RUPEES

The Directorate of Intelligence & Investigation (Inland Revenue) Lahore has detected sales tax evasion worth billions of rupees by a reputed company. The company had issued illegal credit notes of huge amounts in Annexure-C of the sales tax returns without corresponding debit notes from the buyers. In this way, the company suppressed output tax to reduce its sales tax liability for the tax periods in which illegal credit notes were issued and thus deprived the national exchequer from due tax revenue. The team of Directorate gathered information meticulously without disturbing the business activity of the company and initiated proceedings under section 38 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 and retrieved the record and documents from the business premises. Thereafter, the company management agreed to deposit the amount of sales tax involved in the credit note issued/claimed in the return of March 2023 along with default surcharge. Thus, timely intervention by the Directorate has led to recovery of sales tax amounting to Rs.1358 Million and default surcharge of Rs.26 Million on 20th June, 2023. The Federal Board of Revenue is committed to eradicate the menace of tax evasion and tax frauds in order to provide level playing field to the businesses that are tax-compliant and contributing to the national exchequer. Accordingly, to place a system check on such fake credit notes, the sales tax return has been amended to disallow suppliers of goods to issue/claim credit notes in the returns without first issuance of debit notes by the corresponding buyers.