By Kamran Haider
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule in an attempt to reassert his flagging authority against challenges from Islamist militants, a hostile judiciary and political rivals.
General Musharraf said he decided to act on Saturday in response to a rise in extremism and what he called the paralysis of government by judicial interference.
"I fear that if timely action is not taken, then God forbid there is a threat to Pakistan's sovereignty," he said in a midnight televised address.
"I cannot allow this country to commit suicide."
The United States, a staunch ally of Musharraf, called his declaration of a state of emergency "very disappointing".
Nuclear-armed Pakistan's internal security has deteriorated sharply in recent months with a wave of suicide attacks by al Qaeda-inspired militants, including one assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto that killed 139 people.
Opposition leader Bhutto flew back to Pakistan on Saturday and accused Musharraf of imposing "mini-martial law". Another leading opposition figure, former cricket captain Imran Khan, was placed under house arrest.
Television channels said that Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, whose earlier suspension in March marked the beginning of a slide in Musharraf's popularity, had been told that his services were "no longer required". Continued...
Pervez Musharraf has invoked emergency rule in Pakistan according to state television. Independent stations have gone off the air.
Pervez Musharraf has ruled Pakistan since 1999
Reports say that police have surrounded the Supreme Court of Pakistan, while the judges are still inside. The court is deciding whether Musharraf was eligible to run in last month's election, which he won. The Supreme Court has stated that Musharraf does not have the authority to declare the state of emergency, which includes a suspension of the Constitution.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who recently returned home, is currently out of the country, visiting family in Dubai. 

''Dawn News'', a private television station in Pakistan had stated that sources said that a declaration of emergency rule was imminent. ''Dawn News'' and other private news organizations then went off the air. Some reports are also saying that land and cell lines into the capital are not functioning, but it is not clear if this is deliberate or is due to high traffic or some other concern. 

Most other countries have responded negatively to this news. The United States said that it was "disappointed" by the move while the United Kingdom's foreign secretary said that it was vital that Pakistan "abides by the commitment to hold free and fair elections on schedule".