WHILE disputes are not unusual among allies, what is needed is to keep these within manageable limits. This can be done through consultations whenever a major decision is about to be taken. Had this been done, the appointment of Mr Salman Taseer as Punjab Governor would not have led to an unusually strong reaction from the PML-N. While Federal Information Minister Sherry Rehman claims that PML-N President Mian Shahbaz Sharif had been consulted and PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar insists that Mr Zardari had himself taken Kh Asif into confidence, the other side maintains it had only been informed, and that too in a casual way. At a press conference, Ch Nisar Ali Khan has accused the Presidency of making the appointment to undertake horsetrading and thus to pave the way for the removal of his party's government in Punjab. Meanwhile, President Musharraf has decided, at least for the time being, to discontinue attempts to replace Ch Shujaat Hussain as PML-Q chief. Mr Hamid Nasir Chattha has told the media that he had full confidence in the party leadership. There is a perception that Mr Zardari's complete support for the PML-N-led government had discouraged those involved in reconditioning the PML-Q to make it acceptable to the PPP. With the PML-N having 160 seats and the PPP 103 in a House of 371, any change of government in the Punjab through horsetrading is inconceivable as long as the coalition partners stick together. The acceptance of the nomination papers of Mian Nawaz and Mian Shahbaz, which had been rejected three months back when the caretaker set-up was in place, should further assure the PML-N that conspiracies cannot succeed as long as the coalition partners are united. The country can ill afford a new struggle for power at a time when it faces an unprecedented rise in fuel and food prices, a paralyzing energy crisis, and foreign incursions in tribal areas. What is more, people have pinned high hopes on the ruling coalition which they think is alone capable of salvaging the economy, putting an end to extremism and strengthening democracy. In order to run the coalition successfully, it is needed on the part of the PPP to formalize the consultation process with its allies, particularly the PML-N, instead of taking them for granted. Similarly the PML-N should resolve whatever differences it might have with the PPP with patience and understanding instead of taking recourse to press conferences and unfriendly statements. Hardliners on both sides have to be restrained.