President Pervez Musharraf has declared a state of emergency in Pakistan, the state run PTV reported on Saturday evening. He issued the provisional constitutional ordinance in his capacity as the chief of the army staff.

Immediately after the announcement, army troops entered the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. Reports said that, Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry is likely to be removed from his post. Reports also suggested that Chaudhry has been detained

Security was tightened in all major cities in the country. All independent news channels have been taken off air.

Musharraf is likely to address the nation later in the night.

Meanwhile in Delhi, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to appraise him of the situation following the imposition of emergency in Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Pakistani security forces has been put on high alert in Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi following reports that militants could carry out more suicide attacks in the twin cities.