87. We deem it appropriate to address each of them as framed and very well-articulated by Learned Counsel for the Amici Curiae. I. Accreditation Regime 88. Articles 5-7 of the Press Law provide for accreditation of journalists but the main complaint made is that whereas accreditation per se is not objectionable, it is the manner of implementation of the law that is problematic. It has been argued by the Applicant in that regard that the National Communications Council combines the role of prosecutor, judge and enforcer in one body and exercises wide power over the media and individual journalists. 89. On our part, while we quite understand the complaint, we have no more than bare submissions on the point. We so say because, while accreditation per se cannot be a bad thing and where all that is required is details of a journalist’s educational background and all other information regarding him, we also heard the Applicant to be saying that in the execution of the law, the National Communications Council has wide powers but that is all that was said. As to how those powers are amenable to abuse, we do not know and in submissions, neither the authorities cited nor the submissions themselves remove the whole issue from the realm of conjecture. 90. In any event, what is undemocratic and where is the violation of freedom of the press when a journalist is for example issued with a “press pass?” (See Article 5 of the Press Law). Article 7 of the Law gives the reason for the press pass as being an entitlement “to access all places where journalists are required to perform their job of obtaining information” and that with the press pass, journalists “have access to areas reserved for the press, to stadiums, airports, Court rooms in Court and Tribunals and generally speaking, are authorised to enter all official or public events.” Reference No. 5 of 2013 Page 33

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