The Road to Polls

July 20: Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Chaudhry, dealing a blow to Musharraf’s authority.

July 27: Musharraf meets former premier Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi to discuss moving towards a civilian-led democracy. Bhutto sets conditions including that Musharraf step down as army chief.

Sept 10: Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf ousted in 1999, is arrested at Islamabad airport, despite having the Supreme Court’s clearance to return from exile.

Oct 2: Musharraf designates Ashfaq Parvez Kayani as army chief. Government says it is dropping corruption charges against Bhutto, clearing the way for her return.

Oct 6: Musharraf wins the most votes in a presidential election by the National and provincial assemblies, but must wait for Supreme Court to rule whether it violated the constitution.

Oct 19: Suicide bomber tries to assassinate Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of exile. Nearly 140 people are killed.

Nov 3: Musharraf imposes emergency rule.

Nov 11: Musharraf says national election will be held by January 9 but under a state of emergency.

Nov 13: Bhutto placed under house arrest for a week in Lahore, hours before planned march against emergency rule.

Nov 15: Musharraf appoints Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro to head a caretaker line-up to oversee elections.

Nov 22: Commonwealth suspends Pakistan after earlier issuing an ultimatum to Musharraf to end the Emergency and quit as army chief.

Nov 25: Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returns from exile, touching down in his stronghold of Lahore.

Nov 28: A tearful Musharraf sees General Ashfaq Kayani sworn in as army chief at army headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Nov 29: Musharraf sworn in as civilian leader. He calls the event a milestone in Pakistan’s transition to democracy.

Dec 9: Sharif says his party will contest election.

Dec 15: Musharaff ends state of emergency, restores constitution.

Dec 27: Bhutto assassinated in attack on election rally in Rawalpindi. At least 16 people killed in blast.

Dec 30: Bhutto’s party appoints her son and husband to succeed her, and says it will contest election.

Jan 2, 2008: Election Commission postpones vote from Jan 8 to Feb 18.

Feb 18: Polls.