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Chronology of Musharraf's rule
Pakistan's ruling coalition announced that it would launch impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf.
Pakistan's ruling coalition announced on Thursday that it would launch impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf.
Here is a brief chronology of major political developments since 1999 when, as army chief, he seized power:
1999
October 12: Musharraf overthrows 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.
