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.

Editorial

Budget delay
Updated 04 Jun, 2026

Budget delay

With economic stabilisation yet to translate into tangible improvement in living standards, the country’s leaders are finding it increasingly difficult to ignore demands for relief.
Absentee lawmakers
04 Jun, 2026

Absentee lawmakers

TWENTY per cent. That is the percentage of lawmakers whose commitment to their vocation is reflected in the time ...
Deliberate provocationst
04 Jun, 2026

Deliberate provocationst

THE latest events at Al-Aqsa Mosque reflect the growing impunity with which extremist Israeli settlers operate. ...
Missing confidence
03 Jun, 2026

Missing confidence

For the government, the economy may be more stable now than it was three years ago, but for manufacturers and exporters, it is still difficult to do business.
GB elections
03 Jun, 2026

GB elections

THERE has been some heated politicking in the country’s scenic north in recent days, with Gilgit-Baltistan finally...
The Lebanon factor
03 Jun, 2026

The Lebanon factor

THE fragile calm that followed the recent US-Iran confrontation is being tested. Iran has made it clear that it does...