August 25, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 22, 1429

LAHORE, Aug 24: The PML-N sees no threat to the Shahbaz Sharif's government in Punjab despite Governor Salman Taseer's contacts with PML-Q leaders and the reported meetings between Senior Minister Raja Riaz and Punjab PML-Q legislators, party sources say.

"We have taken all precautionary measures against the likely steps the opponents may take to bring down the Punjab government", a central leader of the PML-N told Dawn on Sunday.

The PPP and PML-N are coalition partners in Punjab, where the former has 107 MPAs and the latter 171.

Both major parties have started distancing themselves from each other after the PPP's decision to nominate Mr Asif Ali Zardari as its candidate for the president office, a move the PML-N says is against the agreement signed by heads of the two parties.

The mistrust between the two sides and then the PPP leaders' contacts with the PML-Q have raised suspicions that efforts are being made to pull down the PML-N-led coalition and bring in a new one comprising the PPP and PML-Q lawmakers.

The strength of the PML-Q, which had 83 MPAs after the Feb elections, has gone down because of the formation of a forward bloc. The uncertain political situation keeps its strength up and down.Some three dozen PML-Q dissidents are in the forward bloc at present. Four independents, three PML-Functional MPAs and two of the MMA are supporting the PML-N.

In case the PPP and the PML-Q join hands, and the forward bloc members stay with the party (PML-Q), the change of government in Punjab becomes possible.

In view of the importance of the forward bloc members’ role, both PML-N and PPP are trying to win their support.

Some PPP sources say that the party wants to get maximum votes for Mr Zardari for his presidential election and the party's contacts with the PML-Q should be seen in that background.

The PML-N is quite watchful and in a position to foil any bid for the change of the Punjab government.