20th Amendment Bill unanimously passed in NA

After it approval from the federal cabinet, the 20th Amendment Bill was unanimously passed in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Earlier Law Minister Maula Bakhsh Chandio had presented the bill in the NA, after the Federal cabinet had approved the bill's draft during a meeting in Islamabad.

Opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar, during the NA session, had stated that the government has presented the bill without informing the opposition beforehand.

The opposition leader said that in the last meeting, he was told that the government will hold further talks regarding the bill.

The amended bill was meant to shield the 28 lawmakers elected in by-polls after the passage of 18 Amendment.

Currently, membership of 28 senators and legislators of national and provincial have been suspended.

Speaking during the session, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said an unbiased caretaker setup will be formed through the 20th Amendment which will not represent any political party and will make free and fair elections possible in the country.

He said that autocratic forces do not want political stability in the country and vowed to face them with courage. "Petroleum prices will be lowered," he added.

Gilani said that the federal cabinet has approved the bill unanimously after prolonged consultations with the opposition.