A welcome step

GIVEN the various threats to the government and the state of restlessness in the country, the meeting between President Asif Zardari and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif should help matters a lot. It was heartening to see both agreeing on the need to keep the coalition running in the province. More important, President Zardari assured Mr Sharif that a message had been conveyed to Governor Salman Taseer to maintain the spirit of cooperation. This is indeed important as at the and of the day it all boils down to working relationship between the CM and the governor. The PPP had a grouse against the Punjab set-up for the alleged indifference shown to its ministers and members. One of its main worries was that its ministers were not being given important portfolios in the Cabinet. However the CM gave the President his word that these grievances would be removed.