LAHORE, Pakistan: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has sealed the South Asian Free Media Foundation’s (SAFMA) Office without giving any notice and despite a stay order by a Civil Court.
In a statement the Free Media Foundation (FMF), which owns the building in Shadman Lahore, has condemned the arbitrary action of LDA.
The case of use of property is pending before the Lahore High Court (LHC) that had asked the LDA to decide the matter of use of property and had not ordered the sealing of South Asian Media Library.
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 arbitrarily sealed the premises.
While condemning the LDA action against Media Foundation, the Secretary General of SAFMA Imtiaz Alam has called upon the Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi to intervene in the matter.
South Asia Media Library was the only facility of its kind in Lahore that promoted media learning and education.
Informed sources are of the view that the LDA rules are being used to stop SAFMA and FMF from playing its role for media freedom.
