FACTBOX: Pakistan: Between State of Emergency and Martial Law?

(Reuters) - Pakistani police beat and arrested lawyers protesting for a second day against President Pervez Musharraf's emergency rule on Tuesday.

Here are some questions and answers on the situation.

WHAT MOVES HAS MUSHARRAF MADE?

-- Musharraf suspended the constitution on Saturday, and dismissed most Supreme Court justices after they refused to take an oath to abide by a provisional constitutional order.

-- Musharraf gave sweeping powers to police to arrest and detain people and suspended fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech and expression, and rights of assembly have been curtailed.

-- Paramilitary troops and police have been deployed near parliament and the courts, reporting curbs placed on the media and hundreds of opposition supporters, lawyers, politicians and rights activists detained.

"MINI-MARTIAL LAW"

-- Musharraf's suspension of the constitution goes beyond typical state-of-emergency provisions. He imposed the emergency rule in his capacity as army chief and not as president. He allowed the central government, provincial governments and parliament to stay. But he barred courts from issuing orders against himself, the prime minister or any authority designated by the President.

-- Under the constitution, the tenure of the National Assembly could be extended up to a year but Musharraf set no timeline in his order. Officials have said elections will be held on schedule by mid January, but Musharraf has not yet given definitive word.

-- Critics say Musharraf's main motivation was not to stop terrorism, but to tighten his personal grip on power by pre-empting a looming Supreme Court decision that could have ruled invalid his re-election by parliament on October 6 because he contested while still army chief.

-- Musharraf said on Monday he was "determined" to relinquish his military role once he had established harmony between the judiciary, executive and parliament.

-- Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto said the imposition of emergency rule is "mini-martial law" and has vowed that her party would protest against it.

-- Exiled former leader Nawaz Sharif also slammed the move, calling for Musharraf to step down.

HOW IS MARTIAL LAW DIFFERENT FROM EMERGENCY RULE?

-- Martial law typically involves removal of the civilian government and sweeping powers for the military.

-- Giving the military control of police, courts and legislature, it is usually imposed during wartime, after a natural disaster such as flooding or an earthquake, or during the occupation of a country.

WHEN WAS PAKISTAN LAST IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY?

-- In October 1999. Then army chief, Musharraf proclaimed emergency rule when he deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, suspending the constitution, dissolving the National Assembly and bringing Pakistan under the control of the armed forces.

Sources: Reuters, Government of Pakistan (www.pak.gov.pk, www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/post_12oct99/ce2_2001.ht

ml)