Coup de grace

THE long awaited meeting between Mr Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif - the first after the PML (N) pulled out of the federal cabinet - has finally taken place. That the parleys have ended on a positive note indicates a melting of ice between the two coalition partners. PML (N) spokesman Siddiqul Farooq has said his party's Ministers might be back to their Ministries once the differences over the restoration of judges are resolved. Presumably some sort of understanding has been reached on the issue. An earlier report indicated that the PML (N) had finally agreed to a reduced tenure of the CJ in case it was enhanced to five years instead of three contained in the proposed package of constitutional reforms. The PPP seems to be agreeable. Thus an early restoration of the judges cannot be ruled out.