The 20th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2012 was passed by the National Assembly and Senate on February 14 and February 20, respectively. 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 Bill seeks to amend Articles 48, 214, 215, 216, 218, 219, 224 and adds a new Article 224A in the Constitution to make the Election Commission of Pakistan truly independent for holding free and fair elections. The Bill also gives legal cover to the by-elections conducted by the Chief Election Commissioner and provides for mechanisms for the setting up of interim set ups for holding polls in the future. The Spokesperson further said that the President acting upon the advice of the Prime Minister has also withdrawn the order of summoning of the National Assembly session on March 1, 2012.