THE restoration of the PML(N) government in the Punjab is undoubtedly a positive development. This is not to be interpreted as a comment on any inherent positive attributes that the PML(N) might have as a ruling party, but on the necessity of ensuring the continuation of the democratic process. The mandate of the PML(N) in the province should be respected just the way the mandate of the PPP should be at the Centre and the ANP in the NWFP. The fact that none of these parties enjoyed clean government-forming majorities undeniably skewed the theory a bit, but the respective bits of the polity whose governance was at stake did, in relative terms, bring these three parties into power in their respective spheres. And it is only up to the electorate to decide, after the completion of the term, to pass a verdict on the party and that too, only through the ballot box. It is not clear whether the PPP would remain part of the ruling coalition or sit in the opposition in the Punjab Assembly that would be reciprocal to the PML(N)'s earlier decision to move out of the federal government. It is hoped that the two parties cooperate and finally get down to the actual business of governance in the country. We face a huge law and order problem, principally in the form of terrorism, whose acts are moving from suicide bombings to grander operations involving hostages and high profile targets. Then there is the actual War on Terror itself, with the security agencies embroiled in a strange and unconventional conflict in the restive tribal region. Then there are problems of public finance and infrastructure. All of these require the hard work and tough decisions of government and statecraft, not the fireworks of political intrigue. As far as the resolution of these problems is concerned, there is an immense need, in addition to good policy, of stability. The unfortunate brazen bureaucratic reshuffle that followed the imposition of Governor's Rule was unnecessary. After all the political mess he has wrought, it is hoped that Governor Salman Taseer would step down voluntarily and let democracy take root. Though Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif's restoration has brought back certain of the members of the permanent civil service to the forefront, it is hoped that there will be no process of victimization subsequent to their reinstatement. The need for stability cannot be stated strongly enough. Civil servants are servants of the people; they should forget the colonial notions of ruling the natives. But at the same time, they should be accorded due respect and given space to operate in a manner conducive to the execution of the direction that the representative government lays out in front of them.