THE power crisis plaguing the country at the present time with little prospect of relief has understandably outraged different sections of society: industrialists and traders who find their businesses severely affected, and the people in general who are compelled to bear the enervating humidity of the July summer. Added to that is the pressure of survival made difficult by the skyrocketing prices of essential goods. If in sheer exasperation, the masses take to the streets to vent their grievances, they could not in all fairness be blamed. But the gloomy scenario, even if it was admitted that it is a carryover of the military regime, merits close coordination between the federal and provincial governments. Instead, the recent protests in Punjab that in some cases resulted in the destruction of public and private property have brought the latent rivalry and tension between the PPP and the PML (N) to the fore. The PPP leadership in the province has not minced words blaming the PML (N) leaders and Chief Minister in inciting mobs to run riot, torch a railway train and damage other property. It alleges that DPOs and DCOs engineered the riots and the police remained a silent spectator. There is need for the PML (N) to make its position clear. At a time when the nation is passing through daunting challenges of varied kinds, political sense demands that political parties, whether in power or outside, joined hands and tackled them in all earnestness. The unfortunate reality, however, speaks of constant bickering on the ground of dillydallying over putting into effect 'political understanding' embodied in the Charter of Democracy that, in any case, ought to have been out of the way long ago. The people's defiance of the law speaks volumes about their frustration at the way leaderships of especially main political parties are conducting themselves, in disregard of their sufferings. This is time for serious work and not unedifying blame game.