The battle of words between the PML-N and the ruling PPP has temporarily ended after Prime Minister Gilani called Mian Nawaz Sharif on phone and assured him that the short-term agenda presented by him would be implemented within the deadline. He requested him to extend his cooperation to translate it into reality. Mr Gilani is understood to have taken this initiative after discussing the issue with President Zardari who has been residing in Bilawal House, Karachi, for the past one week to supervise the efforts to bring MQM back into the coalition. These efforts have borne fruits and the MQM is back into the fold. Leader of the JUI-F Maulana Fazlur Rehman who left the coalition earlier than MQM, is still adamant and has refused to rejoin the government. The departure of these two members from the coalition converted the majority government into a minority, jolting the PPP leadership. Against this backdrop, Mian Nawaz adopted a tougher line, and addressing a press conference he said in categorical terms that if his ultimatum was not heeded to, PPP ministers would have to leave the Punjab cabinet. Initially, PPP stalwarts responded by hurling counter threat of forming their own government in that event in alliance with the PML-Q, only to be countered by the PML-Q Forward Bloc headed by Ata Muhammad Maneka who announced that they would join hands with PML(N) to be in a comfortable position to form government. The PM stated that he consulted all stakeholders before calling Mian Nawaz and spoke to Mr Zardari. They were of the view that on most of the items of the agenda efforts were already underway and now that the leader of the second largest party had offered cooperation, it was a golden opportunity to show results. What remains to be seen is how far the PPP leadership is serious in taking action on Mian Nawazs agenda, including eliminating corruption, replacing heads of important state institutions, reducing prices, implementing court orders on NRO. The PPPs track record is not enviable. Its total disregard of the Charter of Democracy countersigned by Benazir Bhutto and a lot of other promises it made to coalition partners has rendered its credibility questionable. Nawaz Sharif has agreed to trust PPP again. But he should keep in mind that Mr Gilani is a not a free agent. He is not in a position to go against the wishes of the President. Therefore, he should keep his plan B ready. The 45-day period that he has given to the government is too short and the manner in which things move in Islamabad, one can only hope that things do not fall apart again.