Exiled former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif on Saturday night condemned the imposition of emergency in his country and warned that it was heading towards chaos.
Sharif, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, urged all political parties, including rival Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party, to come together to oppose the move.
Strongly condemning President Pervez Musharraf's decision, Sharif said, "there could be anything, I think we are heading towards chaos. I don't know what is going to happen to our country and for the first time in my political career so upsetting, disappointing and disillusioning."
"I think this is something very unprecedented in the history of Pakistan," he told the India television channel NDTV.
He alleged that whatever Musharraf was doing was for his own personal benefit and to perpetuate his "personal rule" which is using all unconstitutional methods.
Pointing out that the country was in a "terrible crisis", the former premier said all the political forces will have to "put their heads together and save the country."
When asked whether he thinks about joining Bhutto to fight emergency, he said the situation was grave. "We have not witnessed such a grave situation in the 60 years of Pakistan's history."
He said the western countries, including United States, should take a "very clear cut" position on the situation in Pakistan.
Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in the wake of a rapid deterioration in the security situation and growing uncertainty over his position in the face of a legal challenge to his re-election in uniform.