ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: The Supreme Court on Tuesday returned a petition seeking scrapping of amendments made to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Ordinance 2002 on Nov 3 with the objection that the scope of Article 184(3) of the Constitution, under which the plea had been filed, had been curtailed under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO).

“I will file an appeal against the order before the judge in chamber,” the petitioner’s counsel Naseer Ahmed Chaudhry told Dawn after receiving the order which also questioned his locus standi to submit the petition.

Moved by Advocate Ahmed on behalf of petitioner Qazi Sheharyar Iqbal, the petition had sought the striking down of Sections 20 and 33 of the Pemra Ordinance for putting unreasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution.