Pakistan under Musharraf – Chronology
Following is a brief chronology of major political developments in Pakistan since 1999 when Pervez Musharraf, who on Monday announced his resignation as President to avoid impeachment charges, seized power as Army Chief:
October 12,1999: Musharraf overthrows elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif after Sharif sacks him as army chief.
May 13, 2000: Supreme Court validates coup.
December, 2000: Sharif is freed from prison on hijacking and corruption charges, exiled to Saudi Arabia and banned from returning to Pakistan for 10 years.
June 20, 2001: Musharraf declares himself president after the incumbent, Mohammad Rafiq Tarar, resigns.
September 11, 2001: Musharraf drops support for Taliban and allies Pakistan with Washington after 9/11 attacks.
April 30, 2002: Musharraf wins controversial national referendum on his rule.
October 10, 2002: Pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q wins general elections.
November 16, 2002: Musharraf sworn in for a fresh five-year term.
December, 2003: Musharraf escapes two assassination attempts, one by Islamist military officers and the other by al-Qaeda.
January 1, 2004: Musharraf wins parliamentary vote of confidence affirming his unelected rule until 2007.
February, 2004: Musharraf pardons nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan for leaking nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.
December 30, 2004: Musharraf reneges on promise to quit as Army Chief.
March 9, 2007: Musharraf sacks Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, sparking protests. Chaudhry reinstated by Supreme Court in July.
July 10, 2007: Pakistani troops storm the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad, killing scores.
October 6, 2007: Parliament elects Musharraf to another five-year term as President in a vote boycotted by the opposition.
October 18, 2007: Benazir Bhutto returns from exile.
November 3, 2007: Musharraf imposes state of emergency, sacks chief justice, suspends Constitution.
November 25, 2007: Sharif returns from exile.
November 28, 2007: Musharraf steps down as army chief and hands control of military to General Ashfaq Kayani
December 15, 2007: Musharraf lifts state of emergency.
December 27, 2007: Bhutto assassinated at election rally.
February 18, 2008: Parties of Bhutto and Sharif trounce Musharraf`s allies in General Elections.
March 24, 2008: Parliament elects Bhutto aide Yousaf Raza Gilani as prime minister.
August 7, 2008: Coalition says Musharraf to face impeachment.
August 17, 2008: Coalition says it has finalised impeachment charges.
August 18, 2008: Musharraf announces his resignation.
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