The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to de-seal the office of South Asia Free Media Association (Safma) and also sought reply from the respondent authority by September 13.
Saiful Malook advocate appeared on behalf of Secretary General Safma Imtiaz Alam and argued that Safma was the only training institution for journalists in South Asia. He said training institutions and libraries situated in residential areas could not be sealed under the LDA rules.
He said the LDA's action to seal Safma office was without any legal justification and termed it an attempt to curb freedom of press in the country.
He asked the court to direct the LDA to de-seal the Safma office. Barrister Salman Safdar defended the LDA's action and presented complete record of the building.
After hearing both the sides, the court issued an interim order to de-seal Safam office and sought reply from the LDA by next date of hearing. Talking to media persons, Safma Imtiaz Alam said the Safma office was sealed to stifle the voice of independent media. He said the LDA had become a hub of extortion and it had joined hands with land grabbers. The court by issuing the interim order has removed a hurdle in the way to freedom of press, he further added.