ISLAMABAD, May 1: An ex-employee of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that he was compulsorily retired from service for holding a press conference in his capacity as president of the POF Officers’ Association.

Arguing his case without the assistance of a lawyer before a three-judge bench, Engineer Jamil Ahmed Malik said he had issued the statement as a presidential candidate of the association.

He said unnecessary restrictions had been imposed on his fundamental rights, despite the fact that Article 25 of the Constitution guaranteed equal protection of all the citizens.

The petitioner cited an Indian Supreme Court judgment in which it was held that no civil servant could be denied of the right to speak, which was protected under the constitution.