March 9, 2007: Musharraf suspends the chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Lawyers across Pakistan boycott court procedures to protest against the suspension. This sparks countrywide protests

July 8, 2007: Army troops attack Lal Masjid in Islamabad and carry out ‘Operation Silence’. Militants had abducted students, were using them as human shields. The government delegation led by Shujaat Hussain declares that negotiations with the militants holed up in the mosque have been successful. The clerics, however, decline to release the hostages. Musharraf gives the militants half an hour to abide by the agreement or face military action

July 20, 2007: The Supreme Court reinstates Chaudhry, also dismissing charges of misconduct that Musharraf had filed against him

October 2, 2007: Musharraf names Lt Gen Ashfaq Kiyani as vice chief of the army starting October 8

October 6, 2007: Musharraf wins a vote to be re-elected Pakistan’s president. The Supreme Court rules that no winner would be announced till the legality issue is dealt with

November 3, 2007: Musharraf declares a state of emergency

November 25, 2007: More than a month after the return of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan. He had made an effort to enter Pakistan on September 10, 2007 but was deported to Saudi Arabia

November 28, 2007: Musharraf gives up his military uniform and Kiyani becomes chief of army staff

February 18, 2008: In the general elections, the PML-Q, owing allegiance to Musharraf, is virtually wiped out

... contd.