LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the Lahore Development Authority to unseal office of South Asia Free Media Association immediately and sought a reply from the LDA director general.

Advocate Saiful Malook appeared on behalf of Safma secretary general Imtiaz Alam and argued that the organisation 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 move to seal Safma office was an attempt to curb freedom of press in the country and it was done without any legal justification. He requested the court to direct the LDA to unseal Safma office immediately.

Representing LDA Barrister Salman Safdar defended the action of sealing Safma office and presented record pertaining to the building. After hearing both sides, Justice Sajid Mehmood Sethi issued an interim order to unseal Safma office and directed the LDA director general to submit a reply by Sept 13.