ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency Saturday, sacking the nation's top judge and blaming judicial interference in government and a wave of Islamic militant attacks.
Troops and police surrounded the Supreme Court in Islamabad, which had been due in coming days to give a verdict on the legality of military ruler Musharraf's victory in an October 6 presidential election.
Former premier Benazir Bhutto, who warned earlier this week that the opposition would never accept the imposition of an emergency, flew back to Pakistan from Dubai, her party said.
Musharraf echoed the steps he took after the 1999 coup that brought him to power by replacing outspoken chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, a thorn in his side since the general first tried to sack him in March.
The Supreme Court ordered the suspension of emergency rule, which puts the nuclear-armed Islamic republic's constitution on hold, but the government rejected the move.
A copy of the emergency proclamation obtained by Agence France-Presse said that the constitution had been suspended because of an upsurge in militant attacks and because of "increasing interference" by the judiciary.
But US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the decision by Musharraf, a key antiterror ally, "very regrettable," while Britain said it was "gravely concerned." Neighboring India said it "regrets" the state of emergency.
Pakistan's former premier Nawaz Sharif - whom Musharraf ousted eight years ago and then deported in September when he tried to return from exile - called on Musharraf to step down.
All land and mobile telephone lines were severed shortly after the declaration, while private television channels were taken off the air. Some communications were later restored.
Musharraf may now also delay general elections due in January, which were seen as a key step in moving nuclear-armed Pakistan towards full civilian democracy.
"The chief of army staff [Musharraf] has proclaimed a state of emergency in the country and issued a provisional constitutional order," a presidential aide said on condition of anonymity.
Musharraf was due to address the nation later, but the time was still not finalized, state media said.
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More @ paktribune.com, indiatimes.com and aljazeera.net
Musharraf, who is also chief of the army staff, issued a provisional constitutional order declaring emergency.
Justice Chaudhry and eight other judges of the supreme court refused to endorse the order, but Musharraf's government rejected their ruling.
Chaudhry has been placed under house arrest.
Private Geo TV said the president of the supreme court bar association has been arrested.
There have been several other arrests across the country, including that of Imran Khan, the cricketer-turned-politician.
Witnesses said paramilitary troops had been deployed at state-run television and radio stations.
Residents said all telephone lines have been cut in the capital Islamabad.
Severe curbs have been imposed on the media and cable TVs taken off the air.
Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister who is currently in exile in Saudi Arabia, said Pakistan was heading towards anarchy and described Musharraf's decision to invoke emergency as worse than martial law.
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