President signs 20th Amendment into law: membership of 28 MPs stands restored

The membership of the 28 parliamentarians, which was suspended by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, stood restored here on Tuesday after signing of the 20th Constitutional Amendment into law by President Asif Ali Zardari. The Supreme Court had suspended memberships of the 28 Parliamentarians, who were elected in bye-elections held under an incomplete Election Commission of Pakistan after the 18th constitutional amendment.
The Parliament has recently passed the 20th Constitutional Amendment not only to give legal cover to the elections of the 28 Parliamentarians, but also a roadmap for free, fair and transparent elections under an impartial caretaker setup and an independent Election Commission.
The President signed the 20th Constitutional Amendment into law at the Aiwan-e-Sadr and gave the credit for its passage to the maturity and political wisdom of the political parties and the Parliament. The 20th constitutional amendment Bill 2012 was passed by the National Assembly on February 14, 2012 and Senate on February 20, 2012.
Spokesperson to the President Farhatullah Babar said that the President while signing the bill felicitated the entire nation and political parties. The President termed the legislation a landmark development in strengthening democracy and ensuring free, fair and transparent elections under an independent election commission and neutral interim set-ups.
The piece of legislation has amended Articles 48, 214, 215, 216, 218, 219 and besides adds a new Article 224-A in the Constitution to make the Election Commission of Pakistan truly independent for holding free and fair elections. The Spokesperson further said that the President acting upon the advice of the Prime Minister has cancelled the earlier summoned National Assembly session for March 1st, 2012.