Sharif came up with the plan as opposition politicians met in London to draw up a "roadmap" to return the country to democracy and ensure military leader Musharraf steps down before elections later this year.

"Sharif said that we are all intent on getting rid of dictatorship and restoring democracy," Nadir Chaudri said.

"He said, let's boycott the next elections and Musharraf or if you have reservations about that then contest the elections as an alliance on a one-party ticket."

The All Parties Conference (APC) is hosted by Sharif and also features opposition leaders Imran Khan, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Amin Fahim, vice-chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, another former prime minister, is not attending, despite being invited.

The meeting comes against a backdrop of increasing domestic turmoil for Musharraf -- the general who overthrew Sharif eight years ago -- triggered by his suspension of the country's chief justice in March.

The conference agenda circulated by Sharif's camp beforehand calls for strategies to restore "genuine democracy" "free and fair elections under an interim caretaker government without Musharraf" and an independent judiciary.

Chaudri told AFP Sharif said he would not be a candidate for prime minister if the proposed alliance defeats Musharraf at the polls and that it would serve as an interim administration for one to two years.

A decision on whether to accept Sharif's plan is expected Sunday, the conference's final day.

"He said, sleep on it. Come back tomorrow then talk about it again," Chaudri said.

Chaudri told AFP earlier Saturday that all delegates were "almost unanimous" in opposing Musharraf's government and calling for the return of democracy.

But he conceded there were differences between participants about how to achieve their goals.

Sharif's camp says that the event is a unique event bringing together a broad spectrum of political opinion from Pakistan for the first time.

"This initiative is really to rescue the state, to make it functional again and to re-empower it," said Chaudhri Friday.