Setting the stage for a possible showdown with the opposition parties that won last month's general election, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images] has summoned the first meeting of new Parliament on March 17.

Apart from the National Assembly -- the lower house of Parliament, the president summoned the new provincial assemblies to meet on March 17, officials said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro had on Monday signed a document regarding the summoning of the assemblies and sent it to Musharraf for final approval.

The announcement on convening of new Parliament came two days after Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif clinched a deal on formation of a coalition government.

Both parties had won the February 18 parliamentary polls, handing down a crushing defeat to pro-Musharraf ruling PML-Q.

PPP and PML-N also agreed to reinstate the judges sacked by Musharraf during last year's emergency within a month of assuming power.

Pushed to the backfoot after the PPP-PML-N decided to reinstate deposed judges.

Musharraf on Monday said relations with the new government would be "cordial" and asked the parties to "avoid confrontations" with state institutions.