Pakistan, April 22 -- The recent, and perhaps necessary, meeting between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Lahore, aimed at mending their visibly-strained alliance, comes as yet another sign of the endemic fragility of coalition politics in Pakistan. For now, both parties have publicly (read carefully) reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration, but the persistent undercurrents continue to loom large.

The PPP's grievances are not new. For months, the party has voiced concerns over being sidelined in key decision-making processes, especially in Punjab, where Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's administration has been accused of excluding PPP representatives from significant administrative roles. ...