Sat Nov 3, 3:03 PM ET
ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency on 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 AFP 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 anti-terror ally, "very regrettable," while Britain said it was "gravely concerned." Neighbouring 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 told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Musharraf was due to address the nation later but the time was still not finalised, state media said.
Musharraf has been at loggerheads with the Supreme Court since his botched bid to sack Chaudhry. He was reinstated in July and has since issued several damaging rulings including ordering the government to allow Sharif to return.
Television footage showed Musharraf swearing in pro-government judge Hameed Dogar as the new chief justice in a ceremony at the presidential palace, watched by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and several uniformed generals.
The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the official result of the October presidential vote, in which Musharraf won another five-year term, cannot be declared until it rules whether the vote was legal.
Musharraf's emergency order says that there had been a "visible ascendancy in the activities of extremists and incidents of terrorist attacks."
"Some judges by overstepping the limits of judicial authority have taken over the executive and legislative functions... working at cross purposes with the executive and legislature in the fight against terrorism and extremism."
It said a "situation has thus arisen where the government of the country cannot be carried on in accordance with the constitution... there is no way out except through emergent and extraordinary measures."
The emergency will also likely shatter a proposed power-sharing deal between Bhutto and Musharraf, which has been pushed by the United States and Britain ahead of the expected general elections.
Bhutto arrived at Karachi airport from Dubai late Saturday, her spokesman in London told AFP. Bhutto flew to the Gulf emirate on Thursday, having returned to Pakistan from eight years in exile on October 18.
Bhutto said earlier this week that she had heard speculation that Musharraf could declare a state of emergency and warned that her party and the opposition would not tolerate such a step.
Bhutto was targeted by two suicide bombers on her return to Karachi last month in an attack that killed 139 people during her homecoming parade. She said rogue government officials were involved.
It was the deadliest attack in a wave of Islamic militancy that has claimed the lives of more than 400 civilians and security personnel since government troops stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad in July.
Musharraf had pledged to step down as army chief by November 15 if he won the election and the court upheld it, but that now appears unlikely.
