President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule has far-reaching consequences for the judiciary, the media, elections due in January and Pakistanis in general.
HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT THE EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION ISSUED ON SATURDAY:
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: Under emergency rule, Pakistan's 1973 constitution has been suspended. The proclamation says that Pakistan shall be governed "as nearly as may be" in accordance with the constitution, but that some fundamental rights have been suspended notwithstanding.
According to state media, the rights suspended deal with security of the person; safeguards as to arrest and detention; freedom of movement; assembly; association; speech; and equality of citizens.
The suspended constitutional article dealing with security of the person states: "No person shall be deprived of life or liberty save in accordance with law."
The actual implications for the Pakistani public are unclear, with life continuing as normal in most cities except for a locked down area of the capital Islamabad. There have however been several arbitrary detentions of opposition political leaders, lawyers and others.
JUDICIARY: The Supreme Court has been hardest hit by the emergency order. It was due to rule in the next two weeks on the validity of Musharraf's controversial victory in an October 6 presidential election.
Musharraf replaced the independent-minded chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, whom he tried and failed to sack in March, with pro-government judge Hameed Dogar. All other judges were made to swear a fresh oath to Musharraf if they wanted to keep their positions.
The proclamation said that the Supreme Court could not call the emergency order into question. It also said that courts could not issue any judgements against the president or prime minister.
MEDIA: All private Pakistani television news stations have been off the air since Saturday afternoon.
Musharraf later issued a new media ordinance detailing harsh curbs.
The decree outlaws "anything which defames or brings into ridicule the Head of State, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organs of the state."
It also bans newspapers and television from publishing or broadcasting pictures of suicide bombers and their victims or statements by Islamic militants.
The order says there is a maximum punishment of three years in jail or a fine of 10 million rupees (166,700 dollars) for anyone who breaches the code.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority will further have the power to confiscate equipment belonging to violators and to seize their premises for 30 days.
GOVERNMENT/ELECTIONS: The federal and provincial assemblies remain intact and are likely to continue until their terms expire on November 15, when Musharraf's term as president also ends. After that the situation is not clear.
General elections for new assemblies are due in January. Under emergency rule Musharraf can postpone them for up to one year, but there has been no word from the government yet on what it plans to do.
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