LAHORE, Pakistan (UCAN) -- Christians are praying for peace in Pakistan following a declaration of a state of emergency and a rash of arrests.

Special prayers were held in various churches throughout the country on Sunday Nov. 4, the day after President General Pervez Musharraf, in his capacity as army chief, declared a state of emergency.

Bishop Max Rodrigues of Hyderabad appealed for people to pray for the country at the end of Mass at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Speaking with UCA News by telephone, he described the current state of affairs as "not well."

From the southern seaport of Karachi, Father Canisius Mascarenhas told UCA News by telephone that priests of the 15 Catholic churches in Karachi archdiocese have decided to hold special prayers at all Masses on Nov. 11.

"There is a dire need for prayers in the current situation," said the 82-year-old priest of Good Shepherd Parish.

Musharraf explained the emergency declaration was necessary due to rising Islamic extremism. Speaking on state-run Pakistan Television, he declared: "Suicide bombing, terrorism and extremism are at their peak. ... The extremists are trying to enforce their version of Islam on everyone."

The president also spoke of "constant interference" by the judiciary. Shortly after declaring the state of emergency, he replaced Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, who is reportedly under arrest.

Musharraf had earlier dismissed the chief justice in March, but brought him back four months later after widespread protests against the ouster and against military rule. The president took power through a bloodless coup in 1999. In 2002 he held a referendum in which, according to the official results, more than 70 percent of eligible voters voted and almost 98 percent of them endorsed his continuing in office for five more years.

His imposition of emergency rule came at a time when his eligibility to be elected president without resigning his military commission was still under review by the Supreme Court. He was elected president on Oct. 6. Only members of the Senate, National Assembly and four provincial assemblies participated in the voting.

The emergency declaration suspends rights such as freedom of speech, press, movement, assembly and association. Private local and foreign television news channels are now off the air.

Although the constitution is in abeyance, the Senate, National Assembly and provincial assemblies as well as local governments continue to function.

Perwaiz Rafique, a Catholic member of the Punjab provincial assembly, told UCA News that the declaration of emergency rule "has increased the prevailing uncertainty and tension among the people."

A statement from the Catholic bishops' National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) expressed concern that thousands of lawyers, about 60 judges of the Supreme Court and four High Courts, and hundreds of human rights activists have been detained and put under house arrest.

Asma Jehangir, chairperson of the non-governmental Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of religion, was also placed under house arrest.

Police raided the human rights NGO's secretariat in Lahore on Nov. 4 and arrested 54 rights activists, lawyers, lecturers and journalists, 24 of them women. They were charged with holding an "illegal assembly," and were taken to Kot Lakhpat Central Jail in Lahore. Joint Action Committee, a coalition of 26 human rights organizations, had called the meeting to discuss the post-emergency scenario.

More than 150 protesters including relatives of those arrested, journalists, students and teachers gathered outside the jail on the night of Nov. 4 and lit candles in a silent protest.

Haroon Chaudhry, cousin of Irfan Barkat, a Catholic legal-aid adviser for the NCJP who was arrested, told UCA News: "We were not allowed to meet them. Even the warm clothes and food items that I brought for my (cousin) were kept by the police."

According to the international media, Musharraf rejected a call Nov. 5 by United States President George W. Bush to end the state of emergency, hold elections and give up his army post. The U.S. government supports Pakistan's government with billions of dollars in aid to fight terrorism.

The media also report Western diplomats as expressing concern that emergency rule, which Musharraf claims will help him fight terrorists, will backfire on this count.

END