Timeline: How the crisis unfolded between Musharraf and Supreme Court

Timeline: How the crisis unfolded

 

 

March 9: Gen Musharraf demands Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry resigns, and later suspends him from office, sparking protests.

 

July 20: Mr Chaudhry returns to his post by order of the Supreme Court.

 

Aug 23: Mr Chaudhry rules that Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister who has been in exile in Saudi Arabia, can return to Pakistan.

 

Sept 10: Gen Musharraf sends police to meet Mr Sharif's plane at Islamabad airport. He is deported just four hours later.

 

Sept 13: Mr Chaudhry establishes a judicial panel to rule on whether Gen Musharraf can stand for re-election.

 

Oct 5: Gen Musharraf announces that Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister, would be exempt from prosecution on corruption charges if she returned to Pakistan.

 

Oct 6: Gen Musharraf is re-elected president, but the Supreme Court warns that result will not be ratified until it rules on his eligibility.

 

Oct 8: Former intelligence chief Ashfaq Kiyani takes over as vice-chief of the army and is set to take the top army job if Gen Musharraf steps aside.

 

Oct 17: The Supreme Court resumes hearing opposition challenges to Gen Musharraf's election.

 

Oct 18: Ms Bhutto returns to Pakistan, ending her eight-year exile.

 

Oct 19: Suicide bombers target Ms Bhutto's convoy, killing 139 of her supporters.

 

Nov 1: Ms Bhutto leaves Pakistan for Dubai to visit her family, after earlier cancelling a trip amid fears that Gen Musharraf would impose state of emergency or martial law.

 

Nov 3: Gen Musharraf declares a state of emergency, dismissing Mr Chaudhry. Ms Bhutto flies back to Pakistan.

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