He said that a new counterterrorism strategy would be drafted following the convening of parliament next week.

PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif, in their agreement to form a coalition government, also vowed to grapple with the violence engulfing the country. "Terrorists are trying to put pressure on the government-in-making. But I am sure the government-in-making will also have the same resolve to deal with terrorism," said interior ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema.

Critics said the terrorism was not going to ease unless there is a change in the country's domestic and foreign policies. They added that Pakistan needs to seek political and economic solutions to combat militancy through dialogue with different groups.

Political tension soaring

The winner of the February 18 poll, the PPP and the PML-N, announced Sunday that they would work on forming a coalition government with the Prime Minister from the PPP.

"We undertake to form a coalition together for Pakistan, as the people of Pakistan had given a mandate to the democratic force on February 18," said Sharif after his meeting with Zardari at the scenic town of Murree in eastern Pakistan.

In a joint declaration, they agreed to reinstate Supreme Court judges fired by Musharraf last year through a parliamentary resolution within 30 days of the government's formation.

Musharraf imposed a state of emergency and sacked some 60 judges on November 3, days before the Supreme Court was due to rule on the legality of his new presidential term before he stepped down from the post of army chief.

Sharif's party said the new parliament would decide Musharraf's political fate. Sharif has repeatedly called for Musharraf to resign in recent weeks, while the PPP has ruled out immediate plans to seek the president's removal.