Opposition parties in Pakistan have launched a strong attack on plans by President Musharraf to strengthen the role of the armed forces in Pakistan's government.

The new National Security Council, which will comprise civilian and military leaders, will have the power to dismiss governments and parliament.

The Pakistan Muslim League and the Pakistan People's Party, condemned the move and the opposition coalition, the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, described it as a "joke".

It is a joke in the name of democracy

Opposition alliance chief Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan

General Musharraf announced the plans on Friday and said he was trying to give away power rather than amass it.

But opposition parties have stepped up their criticism of the Pakistani leader ever since a controversial national referendum in April, in which he won another five years as president.

Army role

The Pakistan People's Party of former premier Benazir Bhutto described the proposed new body as a "recipe for disaster" because it would be dominated by military personnel.

The opposition says democracy is being destroyed

The Muslim League said it could lead to a serious confrontation between the army and civilian governments.

One of the main fundamentalist parties, the Jamaat-e-Islami, also rejected the idea.

"Musharraf wants a permanent role for the army through the National Security Council, which is in violation of the army's own code of ethics," party leader Qazi Hussein Ahmed said in a statement.

General Musharraf said the new body, which would include an opposition leader, was necessary to provide checks and balances for a democratic process which had failed in the past.

Democratic concerns

General elections are to be held in Pakistan in October.

But opposition parties say President Musharraf is not serious about the democratic process, and wants to retain power for himself.

In June, General Musharraf said he wanted to amend the constitution to give himself the power to sack the prime minister and dismiss parliament - but now wants to give this power to the National Security council.

He has already issued decrees banning non-graduates from standing in elections, and barring anyone who has been prime minister twice from holding the office for a third time.

This effectively rules out both former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif from ever being prime minister again.

Mr Sharif was overthrown by General Musharraf when he seized power in a coup in 1999.