President Asif Ali Zardari. — File Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday signed the 20th Constitutional Amendment bill which has now become part of the Constitution, DawnNews reported.

The bill was adopted unanimously by the National Assembly on Feb 14 and was passed by the Senate with clear majority on Feb 21 providing an independent Election Commission and a neutral interim government set-up to oversee polls.

Speaking on the occasion, the president said that the bill will ensure free and fair elections in the country.

The amendment has also validated the election of 28 law-makers through bye-polls during the past two years whose membership was suspended by the Supreme Court because the elections were held without completing the Election Commission in accordance with the 18th Amendment approved in April 2010.