Twenty people were killed two days after annoucement of coalition deal [AFP]

Bombs strike Lahore killing 20 people, 48 hours after opposition parties agreed to work together to restore democracy.

With the parties agreeing to form a coalition government to break the impasse, the bombings represent another blow to Pakistan, already rife with violence and disorder.

 

And again it focuses on the enormity of the task facing Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party and the PPP, once headed by Benazir Bhutto.

With the two parties traditionally bitter rivals; they have pledged to tackle the problems of economic meltdown and religious extremism.

 

The parties are set to meet on March 17 alongside their bitter foe Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistani president.

But can the parties overcome their differences? Can they halt Pakistan's slide? What is next for Pakistan?

Inside Story, with presenter Sami Zeidan, investigates.