ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — President Gen. Pervez Musharraf received no respite from political woes today after backing away from emergency rule, with home front rivals demanding more democracy.

Musharraf, battered by a series of stumbles in his bid for a new five-year presidential term, was urged by some advisers to declare a state of emergency that would have drastically curtailed freedoms.

He decided against it on Thursday after strong opposition from inside and outside his government, and a late night phone call from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The idea that Musharraf, a key U.S. ally in fighting terrorism, was even considering a state of emergency was seen as a sign of weakness rather than muscle-flexing, and opposition parties today characterized his decision against the move as a defeat for the military leader.

"Shortly after the media reported that Musharraf's government had taken a decision to declare emergency in Pakistan, civil society — including politicians and lawyers — revolted and a subsequent public opinion coup forced the government to reverse its decision," said Ahsan Iqbal, spokesman for the Pakistan Muslim League-N party.

Ameer ul-Azeem, a spokesman for Pakistan's largest religious party, Jamaat-e-Islami, said Musharraf had hoped to hobble expected legal challenges to his bid for another presidential term and plans by exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to return to Pakistan and run in legislative elections due by early next year.

"Musharraf is scared of the judiciary, and he wanted to curtail its powers by imposing emergency," ul-Azeem said, adding that the president is "perturbed and panicked" by his falling political fortunes.

Under Pakistan's constitution, the president can impose a temporary state of emergency to deal with serious external or internal security threats. Freedom of movement, assembly and some activities of the courts can be restricted, and the term of parliament can be extended for one year.