The government has gazetted an amendment to the State Proceedings Amendment Decree which has now repealed the protection earlier given to government ministers to make any statements and the media to publish anything relating to what the ministers have said.
The State Proceedings Amendment Decree which was gazetted in January 2012 stated that no court, tribunal or commission shall have the jurisdiction to accept, hear, determine or in any way entertain any challenge at law, to award any compensation or to grant any other remedy to any person or body in relation to any statements made by the Prime Minister or any Minister, whether in their official or personal capacity.
It was further stated that no court or commission should entertain any legal challenge relating to the broadcast or publication by any media organisation of any statement made by the Prime Minister and Ministers.
Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum confirmed that this decree is now out and the Prime Minister and the Ministers do not have this protection from last Friday.
The Public Order Amendment Decree was also gazetted last Friday which gives people the right to take a matter to court if they believe that authorities have not made the right decision in rejecting their permit to meet.
While highlighting this amendment, Sayed-Khaiyum stressed that there are no stoppages in party campaign meetings as all parties are freely holding campaign meetings around the country.
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