Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf was today arrested in a case relating to the imposition of emergency rule in 2007. He was taken to the court of judicial magistrate Muhammad Abbas Shah, who remanded Musharraf to police custody.

The Magistrate directed police to produce former military dictator before anti-terrorism court in two days. Musharraf is the first former Pakistan army chief to face such action.

Police officials arrested the 69-year-old former military strongman this morning at his farmhouse near Islamabad. Footage on television showed Musharraf looked shaken while being led into the magistrate's small office by dozens of policemen and paramilitary personnel.

Earlier this week, Musharraf was disqualified from contesting next month's general election, effectively ending his ambitions for a political comeback. Authorities have also barred him from travelling out of Pakistan.

Analysts, meanwhile, said Musharraf's arrest could put the judiciary in conflict with the powerful military, which would not like to see a former chief being humiliated or insulted in public.

They further contended that Musharraf's trial could drag into it members of the current military leadership including army chief Gen Kayani, as they were part of Musharraf’s inner circle when he imposed emergency rule in 2007.