With martial law in Pakistan, there have been widespread arrests and civil society institutions have been either marginalized or suspended - all in the name of strengthening a future democratic Pakistan. Geo News Headlines provide a snapshot.

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Musharraf destroying institutions to save his rule: Imran LAHORE: Chairman Tehrik-e-Insaf Imran Khan has said Gen. Pervez Musharraf destroying national institutions to save his rule.

Addressing party officials in Lahore Imran said an individual has created the whole situation to save his government adding that the struggle would continue till final victory against Musharraf’s rule. 

Tehrik-e-Insaf leader said that he would join lawyers outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad Monday morning to protest against oath taking of judges under Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).

Musharraf guilty of 'second coup': Bhutto KARACHI: Former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto Sunday accused President Pervez Musharraf of staging a "second coup" which would only fuel radicalism in the country. 

Interviewed on US television, Bhutto said Pakistani judges and opposition parties would not take General Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule "lying down." 

"I'm very disappointed that General Musharraf has suspended the constitution of our country and promulgated a provisional constitutional order," she said, accusing him of staging a "second coup" after first seizing power in 1999. 

“It's going to lead to an unnecessary confrontation between the regime and the people which only can help the extremists who will exploit the situation to their advantage." 

"Ironically this is a coup conducted by General Musharraf against his own regime. "But I know that the judges, lawyers and political activists and party leaders are going to protest it," Bhutto said.  

Emergency is worst attack on judiciary and media: Nawaz Sharif ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that declaration of emergency is the worst attack on democracy, judiciary and media.

Sharif, in a statement released from Pakistan Muslim League (N) office in Islamabad, said President Musharraf has taken the step due to probable adverse judgment from Supreme Court. 

He said that Musharraf has confessed his failure before the nation. Nawaz Sharif said that the nation would not accept the extra constitutional step.

He also condemned arrests of lawyers, political activists and representatives of civil society and curbs over media and closure of private television channels.   

Lawyers to boycott courts from tomorrow PESHAWAR: National Lawyers Action Committee has declared imposition of emergency in the country as an unlawful act and announced boycott of courts from Monday.

Talking to media here, a member of the committee and prominent jurist, Qazi Muhammad Anwar Advocate said that state of emergency is an unconstitutional and illegal action adding that the lawyers would observe countrywide black day and boycott court proceedings tomorrow to protest against emergency.   

Police raids for arrest of lawyers, political leaders in Karachi KARACHI: Police raids are continued over the houses of political leaders and lawyers in Karachi.

Police has arrested President Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) Ibrar Hassan in Karachi. He has been sent to Central Jail Karachi for 90 days, Gen. Secretary SHCBA Munir-ur-Rahman said. 

President Malir Bar Association Zahoor Mahar has also been arrested, police sources said. 

Police also conducting raids for arrest of leaders of lawyers, Rasheed Rizvi, Munir Malik, Salahuddin Gandapur, Yasin Azad, Naeem Qureshi and political leaders Nasrullah Shajee, Hussain Mehnati, Younus Barai and others.   

Emergency imposition queer event of parliament history: Bezanjo KARACHI: General Secretary National Party Pakistan Mir Hasil Khan Bezanjo said that it was interesting and strange occurrence in the history of the parliament that the constitution was suspended while assemblies and other constitutional institutions were left functional. 

Addressing a news conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Sunday, he criticized the present extra-constitutional step and praised the honorable judges of Supreme Court and High Courts who denied taking oath under the PCO. 

On this occasion, he asked former prime ministers of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto to lead the movement for revival of democracy as per the Charter of Democracy. 

He said what is being called an emergency is fact a martial law. He said the emergency could not be imposed with approval of the National Assembly. He was of the opinion that a Chief of Army could only impose martial law. 

Bezanjo asked lawyers, journalists, students, teachers, labors, human rights activists, political workers and all other sectors of civil society to unite for struggling for restoration of democracy. He said that his party is working for this cause and he himself is talking with other political parties to chalk out a strategy. 

National Party's Joint Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Advocate and Information Secretary Jan Muhammad Buledi were also present.   

First day of emergency: people denied access to information ISLAMABAD: On the first day following the promulgation of emergency, Pakistan's electronic media audience was in virtual darkness Sunday as private television channels broadcast through cable networks remained suspended.

The security agencies continued their activities and kept arresting the political workers and leaders, lawyers, human rights activists and other people. The government sources claim the arrests are in hundreds; however, non-governmental sources are stressing the number of arrests is much higher.

President Musharraf announced the proclamation of emergency; however, political leaders, lawyers and civil society are terming it the martial law.

The clampdown on the vibrant private media kept the people from gaining access to information.

Only the state-run Pakistan Television was allowed to continue its telecast; while, the private channels remained inaccessible to most of the population connected to the widespread cable network. 

State television showed a few public interviews in which people called the state of emergency necessary to help steer the country out of the crisis caused by Islamic militancy and troubled political affairs. 

Government authorities on Saturday had also stopped the private media from using their mobile broadcast vans to prevent live coverage of the street scenes in which the police and paramilitary troops cordoned off important state buildings.   

Asfandyar Wali Khan under house arrest PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) central leader Asfandyar Wali Khan has been put under house arrest at his residence situated at Wali Bagh here on Sunday.

Talking to Geo News, he said the Chief of Army Staff promulgated the martial law not the emergency, as it is only the president who could declare the imposition of emergency under the constitution of 1973.

Asfandyar Wali Khan said that the law and order situation emerged in the tribal areas in Musharraf’s era.  

MMA demands restoration of 1973 constitution  HYDERABAD: Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) leader Sahibzadah Dr Abul Khair Mohammed Zubair demanded the restoration of 1973 constitution and said that the people of Pakistan would not accept the emergency at any cost.

According to a statement issued from here, Dr Zubair said the government opted for the emergency to escape the holding the general elections.

He said that the people have been kept devoid of the fundamental right for last eight years, which has now been vindicated by promulgating the emergency.

Sahibzadah Dr Abul Khair Mohammed Zubair said the government should confess failure; it is laying blame on the judiciary, instead.  

Lawyers, political workers take out protest demo in Mardan MARDAN: The lawyers and the workers of the political parties took out the procession against the imposition of emergency in the country on Sunday.

Mardan police arrested Muslim League-N leader Abdus Subhan.

A large number of workers belonging to various political parties along with lawyers attended the protest demonstration convened under the aegis of Mardan Bar Association.

Former MPA and Senior Muslim League-N leader Abdus Subhan led the procession, which was taken from Kutchehri Chawk to Pakistan Chawk.

On reaching Pakistan Chawk, Abdus Subhan was arrested.  

238 abducted security personnel released: sources WANA: As many as 238 security men, who were abducted from South Waziristan, have been released on Sunday.

According to the sources, these security men have been released more than two months ago on August 30, when they were en route from Wana and Shakai to Laddah in South Waziristan.

It was said the release was made possible under the exchange plan of prisoners with Taliban after the successful Jirga was held, as at least 29 local Taliban were released in return for these security personnel.

However, there is no official confirmation of the release of these local Taliban.  

Various arrested; raids underway to arrest lawyers, political leaders KARACHI: The spell of raids on the houses of political leaders and lawyers continued today to be conducted here.

Police arrested Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) President Abrar Hasan.

According to SHCBA General Secretary Muneerur Rehman, Abrar Hasan has been sent to the Central Jail Karachi for 90 days.

According to the police sources, Malir Bar Association President Zahoor Mehr was also arrested.

It should also be mentioned that the raids are being conducted to arrest Rasheed Rizwi, Muneer Malik, Salahud Din Gandapur, Yaseen Azad and Naeem Qureshi and other political leaders including Nasurllah Shajee, Mohammed Hussain Mehanti and Younis Barai.