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Musharraf targets key opponents Musharraf targets key opponents
(40 minutes later)
Pakistani opposition leaders and activists have been detained in the wake of President Pervez Musharraf's decision to declare emergency rule.Pakistani opposition leaders and activists have been detained in the wake of President Pervez Musharraf's decision to declare emergency rule.
The acting head of the party of exiled former PM Nawaz Sharif was arrested, senior lawyers have been detained and the country's chief justice sacked.The acting head of the party of exiled former PM Nawaz Sharif was arrested, senior lawyers have been detained and the country's chief justice sacked.
Elections planned for January may now be delayed, a minister said on Sunday.Elections planned for January may now be delayed, a minister said on Sunday.
Gen Musharraf has defended his decision, saying he could not allow the country to commit suicide. Gen Musharraf has defended his decision, saying he could not allow the country to "commit suicide".
He said Pakistan was in a crisis caused by militant violence and a judiciary which had paralysed the government.He said Pakistan was in a crisis caused by militant violence and a judiciary which had paralysed the government.
The moves came as the Supreme Court was due to rule on the legality of Gen Musharraf's October election victory.The moves came as the Supreme Court was due to rule on the legality of Gen Musharraf's October election victory.
Threat of forceThreat of force
The streets of Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, were largely calm on Sunday morning, reports said, although police and paramilitaries manned checkpoints around the parliament and presidential palace. Police and paramilitaries manned checkpoints around the parliament and presidential palace in the capital, Islamabad, on Sunday morning.
HAVE YOUR SAY The world is entering into 2008 and still we are at 1958 Nasir, Islamabad class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3776&edition=1">Your views on emergency There was dispute over whether the president had effectively declared martial law. After a calm start, a few dozen people staged a brief protest near the parliament building before police moved in to break up the gathering.
Local newspapers and key opposition leader Benazir Bhutto accused Gen Musharraf of bringing in martial law without declaring it. HAVE YOUR SAY The world is entering into 2008 and still we are at 1958 Nasir, Islamabad class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3776&edition=1">Your views on emergency Several people were dragged away and arrested, reports the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, in the city.
The BBC's Barbara Plett, in Islamabad, notes that the government appears ready to respond to potential protests with force if necessary. More protests are expected throughout the rest of the day, he adds, with police appearing ready to use force against unauthorised demonstrations.
Tough new media restrictions are controlling the news available throughout Pakistan: all non-state TV stations and some radio channels, including international services such as BBC World TV, have been taken off air.
Independent newspapers have been allowed to continue publishing, but Gen Musharraf's decree severely limits what they can report.
Local newspapers and key opposition leader Benazir Bhutto accused Gen Musharraf of bringing in martial law without formally declaring it.
But Pakistan's attorney general said the prime minister and parliament remained in place and the civilian government would continue to function.But Pakistan's attorney general said the prime minister and parliament remained in place and the civilian government would continue to function.
Opposition anger
Before he was taken away by police in the central city of Multan, Javed Hashmi, of Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League, said Gen Musharraf would pay a price for his decision to restrict freedoms.Before he was taken away by police in the central city of Multan, Javed Hashmi, of Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League, said Gen Musharraf would pay a price for his decision to restrict freedoms.
"Musharraf's days are numbered. Time has come to end the political role of the army," he said."Musharraf's days are numbered. Time has come to end the political role of the army," he said.
EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS Constitutional safeguards on life and liberty curtailedPolice get wide powers of arrestSuspects can be denied access to lawyersFreedom of movement restrictedPrivate TV stations taken off airNew rules curtail media coverage of suicide bombings or militant activityChief justice replaced, others made to swear oath of loyaltySupreme Court banned from rescinding emergency order In pictures: Emergency rule Declaration: Full textEMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS Constitutional safeguards on life and liberty curtailedPolice get wide powers of arrestSuspects can be denied access to lawyersFreedom of movement restrictedPrivate TV stations taken off airNew rules curtail media coverage of suicide bombings or militant activityChief justice replaced, others made to swear oath of loyaltySupreme Court banned from rescinding emergency order In pictures: Emergency rule Declaration: Full text
Ms Bhutto, who recently returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile, flew back to Karachi from a trip abroad upon hearing news of Gen Musharraf's decision.Ms Bhutto, who recently returned to Pakistan from self-imposed exile, flew back to Karachi from a trip abroad upon hearing news of Gen Musharraf's decision.
She confirmed that troops were not surrounding her Karachi home, contrary to some earlier reports, and laid out her demands for the holding free and fair elections.She confirmed that troops were not surrounding her Karachi home, contrary to some earlier reports, and laid out her demands for the holding free and fair elections.
"We the political parties are calling for the restoration of the constitution, and for the holding of the elections under an independent election commission," she told the BBC."We the political parties are calling for the restoration of the constitution, and for the holding of the elections under an independent election commission," she told the BBC.
There is no word yet whether she plans to enter dialogue with the president or to lead opposition to his rule.There is no word yet whether she plans to enter dialogue with the president or to lead opposition to his rule.
However, the country's Information Minister Tariq Azeem said elections planned for January were now "on the back burner", with no date set.However, the country's Information Minister Tariq Azeem said elections planned for January were now "on the back burner", with no date set.
President defiantPresident defiant
In a TV address on Saturday evening, Gen Musharraf explained his decision, saying the current situation had forced him into making "some very painful decisions".In a TV address on Saturday evening, Gen Musharraf explained his decision, saying the current situation had forced him into making "some very painful decisions".
Analysis: Next moves Reaction in quotes Pakistan has been engulfed in political upheaval in recent months, and the security forces have suffered a series of blows from pro-Taleban militants opposed to Gen Musharraf's support for the US-led "war on terror".Analysis: Next moves Reaction in quotes Pakistan has been engulfed in political upheaval in recent months, and the security forces have suffered a series of blows from pro-Taleban militants opposed to Gen Musharraf's support for the US-led "war on terror".
"I suspect that Pakistan's sovereignty is in danger unless timely action is taken."I suspect that Pakistan's sovereignty is in danger unless timely action is taken.
"Extremists are roaming around freely in the country, and they are not scared of law-enforcement agencies," the president said."Extremists are roaming around freely in the country, and they are not scared of law-enforcement agencies," the president said.
"Inaction at this moment is suicide for Pakistan and I cannot allow this country to commit suicide.""Inaction at this moment is suicide for Pakistan and I cannot allow this country to commit suicide."
Court issueCourt issue
Following the announcement of emergency rule, the country's chief justice was replaced and the Supreme Court surrounded by troops.Following the announcement of emergency rule, the country's chief justice was replaced and the Supreme Court surrounded by troops.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and eight other judges refused to endorse the emergency order, declaring it unconstitutional, resulting in Mr Chaudhry's dismissal. Gen Musharraf moved quickly to appoint a new chief justiceChief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and eight other judges refused to endorse the emergency order, declaring it unconstitutional, resulting in Mr Chaudhry's dismissal.
Gen Musharraf moved quickly to appoint a new chief justiceThe Supreme Court was to decide whether Gen Musharraf was eligible to run for re-election last month while remaining army chief. The Supreme Court was to decide whether Gen Musharraf was eligible to run for re-election last month while remaining army chief.
Our correspondent says fears were growing in the government that the court could rule against Gen Musharraf. Fears were growing in the government that the court could rule against Gen Musharraf.
It is not now clear whether the parliamentary elections due in January will go ahead. Gen Musharraf made no mention of them in his speech, but he insisted he wanted to restore democracy. Pakistani lawyers announced they would strike on Monday in protest at the president's decision.
Nevertheless, Pakistani lawyers, who have lead opposition to recent curbs on the Supreme Court by Gen Musharraf, announced they would strike on Monday in protest at the president's decision.
International figures expressed concern at Gen Musharraf's move.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the declaration of emergency rule was "highly regrettable" and called upon Pakistan to have free and fair elections.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was vital Pakistan's government "abides by the commitment to hold free and fair elections on schedule".
In neighbouring Afghanistan, officials said they were following the situation carefully and urged a swift "normalisation".