Chronology of Musharraf's rule
2008-08-18 11:11
Islamabad - 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:
1999
October 12: Musharraf overthrows elected prime minister Nawaz Sharif after Sharif sacks him as army chief.
2000
May 13: Supreme Court validates coup.
December: Sharif is freed from prison on hijacking and corruption charges, exiled to Saudi Arabia and banned from returning to Pakistan for 10 years.
2001
June 20: Musharraf declares himself president after the incumbent, Mohammad Rafiq Tarar, resigns.
September 11: Musharraf drops support for Taliban and allies Pakistan with Washington after 9/11 attacks.
2002
April 30: Musharraf wins controversial national referendum on his rule.
October 10: Pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q wins general elections.
November 16: Musharraf sworn in for a fresh five-year term.
2003
December: Musharraf escapes two assassination attempts, one by Islamist military officers and the other by al-Qaeda.
2004
January 1: Musharraf wins parliamentary vote of confidence affirming his unelected rule until 2007.
February: Musharraf pardons nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan for leaking nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.
December 30: Musharraf reneges on promise to quit as army chief.
2007
March 9: Musharraf sacks chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, sparking protests. Chaudhry reinstated by Supreme Court in July.
July 10: Pakistani troops storm the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad, killing scores.
October 6: Parliament elects Musharraf to another five-year term as president in a vote boycotted by the opposition.
October 18: Benazir Bhutto returns from exile.
November 3: Musharraf imposes state of emergency, sacks chief justice, suspends constitution.
November 25: Sharif returns from exile.
November 28: Musharraf steps down as army chief and hands control of military to General Ashfaq Kayani.
December 15: Musharraf lifts state of emergency.
December 27: Bhutto assassinated at election rally.
2008
February 18: Parties of Bhutto and Sharif trounce Musharraf's allies in general elections.
March 24: Parliament elects Bhutto aide Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister.
August 7: Coalition says Musharraf to face impeachment.
August 17: Coalition says it has finalised impeachment charges.
August 18: Musharraf announces his resignation.