The Lahore High Court gave authorities another deadline to recover journalist Imran Riaz on Wednesday, now asking that he be presented by July 25.

LHC Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti presided over proceedings on Wednesday, where representatives from the ministry of defence and other departments submitted their responses.

However, the inspector general of Punjab did not appear in court. Instead, the additional IG and DPO Sialkot attended the proceedings.

The representative from the ministry of defence told the court that authorities were trying theri best to find the missing journalist.

The petitioner’s lawyer told the court that all departments seemed to be working for Riaz’s release and it seemed that he would be freed soon.

“If the petitioner is facing administrative difficulties, we can look into that,” the defence ministry representative told the court. He also added that locations and ‘other issues’ were being worked upon.