In memoriam

What is needed now is to avoid reverting to the type of unseemly struggles that characterised the relations between the two parties during the 1988-99 period. Both are within their right to criticise each other's policies inside and outside Parliament, but they must do nothing that upsets the applecart. The PML(N) should respect the PPP's right to hold Islamabad for five years, while the PPP must not try to deprive the PML(N) of its mandate to rule Punjab. There are a lot of positive things the two can do while they maintain adversarial relations. Whatever the shape of coalition at the centre, the PPP would lack the two thirds majority needed to effect the much needed amendments in the constitution without the help of the PML(N).

In one of his recent interviews, Mr Zardari has said that the Army has realised that politics is not its cup of tea. However, unless the PPP and the PML(N) display tolerance for one another that they failed to do in the past, maintain good working relations and their leaders learn to act like political rivals rather than personal enemies, those waiting in the wings might not take long to give the politicians a surprise.