LAHORE – South Asian Free Media Foundations’s (SAFMA) office has been sealed by Lahore Development Authority (LDA) without giving any prior notice and despite a stay order by a civil court, says a statement issued by the organisation on Tuesday.
Free Media Foundation (FMF), which owns the building in Shadman area of the provincial capital, has condemned the arbitrary action of LDA.
The case of use of the property is pending before the Lahore High Court (LHC) that had asked the LDA not ordered the sealing of South Asian Media Library, the statement added.
The FMF had filed a request to the LDA to allow the permissible use for a South Asian Media Library as allowed under LDA Rules. Instead of properly considering the request the LDA illegally sealed the premises.
While condemning the LDA action against Free Media Foundation, the Secretary-General Imtiaz Alam has called upon the Chief Minister Punjab Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi to intervene and solve the matter as soon as possible.
Alam further said, “South Asia Media Library was the only facility of its kind in the city that promoted media learning and education”.
“LDA’s rules are being used to stop SAFMA and FMF from playing its role for media freedom in Pakistan,” he added.
