WITH the deposed judges finally restored, one of the issues that had kept the pot boiling in the country is thankfully resolved. The judicial crisis would have ended within days of the departure of former President Musharraf if President Zardari had agreed to restore the deposed judges through an executive order. An early resolution of the issue would have strengthened both the federal and Punjab governments where PPP and PML(N) were coalition partners. Reports of a meeting between PM Gilani and Mian Nawaz Sharif inspire hopes of a respite to the prevailing confrontation between the two major parties. With mutual confidence having dissipated, it might take time before it is restored. What is more it would require a number of concrete steps on the part of the PPP leadership. On Saturday President Zardari stressed 'the need to forget the past, move on, look forward and build on what has been achieved." One may add that learning from the past is as important, if not more so, as forgetting it. Events of the last one year are however a sad commentary over the learning capacity of the politicians. It would be considered good news if the PPP has really shelved its ill-advised 'get Punjab plan' that led to the Governor's rule followed by multi-pronged attempts to form its government in the province which pushed the polarization many notches high without taking the party anywhere near its cherished goal. It is not clear if the decision to talk to the PML(N) leadership is indicative of a genuine change of heart or only a maneuver to gain time. Qazi Hussain Ahmad's advice to Ch Shujaat Hussain, who visited him on Saturday, to shun palace intrigues is quite timely. The Q-League should accept the people's verdict delivered in 2008 elections by sitting on the opposition benches over the next four years. The PPP and PML(N) must restrain their respective hawks from vitiating the political atmosphere through irresponsible statements. Meanwhile confidence building measures need to be implemented. These include the summoning of the Punjab Assembly to elect a new Chief Minister and the replacement of the Governor who in his misguided zeal to turn Lahore into another Larkana forgot to act as a neutral agent of the centre. While the CBMs are implemented, talks should also be initiated between the two major parties on a timeframe for the repeal of the 58(2) B and 17th amendment so that there is no need for anyone to look for solutions to political issues outside parliament. The serious problems Pakistan faces need cooperation on the part of the two mainstream parties. This can be done by either PML(N) and the PPP going back into the coalition at the Centre and Punjab or even by sitting on the opposition benches provided they do not rock the boat by their actions. By implementing the CoD in letter and in spirit the two can cooperate on major national issues.