After the proclamation of emergency in the country on Saturday evening, police and paramilitary forces cordoned all major government buildings in Karachi to avert any untoward incident. Security was on high alert and snap checking of vehicles was being carried out to ensure that no terrorist takes advantage of the situation.
Movement of security personnel could be seen in the city in the afternoon and shutting down of all private TV channels in the evening reinforced the general perception regarding imposition of emergency.
Meanwhile, Sindh Governor and Chief Minister convened meetings of their coalition partners, law enforcement agencies and discussed the situation arising out of the imposition of emergency. They reviewed the law and order situation and drew strategy to meet unforeseen situations.
According to unconfirmed reports, out of 27 Judges of Sindh High Court, 11 Judges were invited by the Governor to take fresh oath of their office under the new 'Provisional Constitutional Order' (PCO).
A press briefing, that was due to be held at the Governor House at 8 pm, was abruptly cancelled. As soon as the news of emergency leaked out from Islamabad, police surrounded Sindh Secretariat, television station, Radio Pakistan building, Sindh High Court, Supreme Court Registry, police establishments and other sensitive places.
Policemen in plainclothes were also deputed to provide support to their colleagues in uniform. Management of religious seminaries, mosques and imambargahs also took precautionary measures, and students were seen guarding their educational institutions. Muhallah committees of some of the places of worship gathered in mosques to provide security to their respective mosques.
In normal circumstances, vehicular traffic remains heavy in the evening, but after hearing the news of emergency, people rushed to their homes and there was thin traffic on main roads. Unusual rush of buyers was also seen at bakeries, milk shops and general merchandise stores.