LAHORE, April 25: MMA deputy secretary-general Hafiz Husain Ahmad claimed on Sunday the 17th Amendment had benefited the PML-N and the PPP. Talking to newsmen here , he argued that PPP vice-president Yusuf Raza Gilani had openly admitted that party chairperson Benazir Bhutto would enter the country only when Gen Musharraf would shed his uniform.

Similarly, PML-N president Shahbaz Sharif had benefited from the amendment's clause that reduced higher courts judges' age. "Had the judges who were retired under this clause been there, the Supreme Court decision on Mr Sharif's petition would have been different."

The MMA leader said they were obliged to the ARD for siding with them in voting out the National Security Council (NSC) from the amendment as a constitutional institution and opposing the increase in the retirement age of judges in the LFO.

He said the MMA had given an exit to the army from politics through the 17th Amendment and rescued from Wana quagmire through the tribal way (surrender of five tribesmen through jirga).