E-Paper
Pakistan's emergency: timeline
Key events since Musharraf imposed a state of emergency on November 3.
After President Pervez Musharraf formally stepped down as Pakistani army chief on Wednesday, here are key events since he imposed a state of emergency on November 3:
- November 3: Citing a growing Islamic militancy and a meddling judiciary, Musharraf suspends the constitution and imposes emergency rule. Top judges are sacked.
- Nov 4: Police crack down on the opposition. Cricket hero Imran Khan is placed under house arrest. The United States, a key Musharraf ally, voices concern.
- Nov 5: Police use tear gas and batons against protesters, mostly lawyers, in several cities. The White House says it is deeply disturbed.
- Nov 6: Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the sacked chief justice, urges people to rise up but is soon silenced.
- Nov 7: Main opposition leader Benazir Bhutto announces plans for mass protests. US President George W. Bush issues a "very frank" call to Musharraf to hold fair elections and step down as head of the army.
- Nov 9: Hours before a planned rally in the city of Rawalpindi, police put Bhutto under house arrest at her Islamabad home. The order is later lifted.
- Nov 11: Musharraf says parliament will be dissolved on November 15 and elections should be held by January 9, but indicates emergency rule will stay in place.
- Nov 12: Bhutto rules out further power-sharing talks with Musharraf. She is placed under house arrest again to prevent her leading a mass procession.
- Nov 13: Bhutto for the first time urges Musharraf to resign and says she will never serve under him as prime minister.
- Nov 14: Imran Khan is arrested and charged under anti-terror legislation after emerging from hiding to join a protest.
- Nov 15: A senior official says Musharraf will leave the army by December 1. The president names Senate chairman Mohammedmian Soomro to head a caretaker government.
- Nov 16: Musharraf swears in the interim government. Bhutto is freed from house arrest. US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte arrives in Islamabad and speaks to Bhutto by telephone.
- Nov 17: Negroponte spends a day talking to Musharraf and other senior political and military officials.
- Nov 18: Negroponte leaves, demanding a swift end to emergency rule, which he says "is not compatible" with free elections.
- Nov 19: The Supreme Court, now packed with compliant judges, swats away five of six challenges against Musharraf's re-election as president.
- Nov 20: Authorities announce January 8 as the date for general elections and begin freeing more than 5,500 political prisoners. Musharraf visits Saudi Arabia but officials deny reports that he has met Sharif there.
- Nov 22: The Supreme Court dismisses the final challenge to Musharraf's re-election. The Commonwealth suspends Pakistan for violating the grouping's fundamental values.
- Nov 23: The Supreme Court rules that Musharraf was justified in imposing emergency rule.
- Nov 24: Twin suicide bombings in Rawalpindi kill at least 20 including security force members. Sharif's party says he will return from exile on November 25.
- Nov 25: Sharif arrives in the eastern city of Lahore where thousands of supporters are gathered to give him a rousing welcome.
- Nov 26: Bhutto and Sharif file their nomination papers for the election. Musharraf's office announces he will resign from the army on Wednesday and take a new oath as a civilian leader on Thursday.
- Nov 27: Musharraf bids farewell to his troops and senior officers in a series of ceremonies at the army, navy and air force headquarters.
- Nov 28: Musharraf hands over the baton of army command to his successor General Ashfaq Kiyani in a full military ceremony in Rawalpindi broadcast live on television.
