Timeline (Notes on Events Leading up to "Black Saturday")

Here is a chronology of major political events over recent months, compiled from various sources.

March 9, 2007 - Musharraf suspends Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on allegations of misconduct. Lawyers rally to the top judge and Musharraf's popularity plummets as their pro-democracy campaign grows.

July 10 - After a week-long siege, Musharraf orders troops to storm the Red Mosque in Islamabad to crush a Taliban-style movement based there. At least 105 people are killed. A wave of deadly militant attacks and suicide bombings follow.

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

July 27 - Musharraf meets ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi to thrash out how to move the country towards a civilian-led democracy. Bhutto sets conditions including that Musharraf step down as army chief, talks are inconclusive.

Sept 10 - Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf deposed eight years ago and subsequently exiled, is arrested at Islamabad airport. The Supreme Court had cleared his return, and is hearing petitions that the government was in contempt of court for putting Sharif on a flight to Saudia Arabia.

Oct 2 - Musharraf designates a successor as army chief. Government announces it is dropping corruption charges against Bhutto, clearing way for her return.

Oct 6 - Musharraf wins most votes in a presidential election but he must wait for the Supreme Court to confirm the legality of his bid before being declared the winner.

Oct 19 - A suicide bomb assassination attempt against Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of self-imposed exile kills 139 people. [Reut ers]


During the Week of
Monday 29 October

Justice Iftikhar reportedly informed one of his friends on telephone that the Supreme Court was going to hand down verdict against President Musharraf, which was tapped by the secret agencies. “Iftikhar Chaudhry told his friend that eight judges gave their opinion against General Pervez Musharraf, while three others were in his favour,� an official said adding that this information was substantial for secret agencies to take the extreme action of emergency imposition. [The Nation]

“The top government quarters took BB in confidence on the issue and she nodded in favour of Mr Dogar,� the official stated. Benzir Bhutto recommended the name of Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar for new Chief Justice of Pakistan. To authenticate his information, he said that Justice Dogar was appointed by Benazir Bhutto in 1995. [The Nation]

Wednesday 31st October

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, advises against emergency rule in two phone calls to General Musharraf. [Reuters]

Thursday 1st November


Friday 2nd November

Supreme Court reconvenes to hear challenges if Musharraf was eligible to stand for re-election by parliament while still army chief. Sources say about 800 people have died, more than half of them in suicide bombings, since the storming of the Red Mosque. [Reut ers]

Adm. William J. Fallon, the senior American military commander in the Middle East, told General Musharraf and his top generals in Islamabad on Friday that he would put that aid at risk if he seized emergency powers. [NYT]

Tariq Azim Khan, the minister of state for information took aim at the United States in statements he made Friday night on Geo TV. “The whole world knows that the United States unnecessarily interferes in Pakistan,� he said. “Nicholas Burns and Condoleezza Rice have no right to interfere in Pakistan’s internal matters.� R. Nicholas Burns is under secretary of state for political affairs. [NY T]

"Black Saturday"
Saturday 3rd November

12:00 pm: Marathon meeting chaired by Musharraf begins in Islamabad, attended by senior military and intelligence officials, key cabinet ministers and legal experts. The meeting lasts five hours. Musharraf is reported to have made up his mind on November 1, after he spoke to his international allies on the situation in the country.

2:00 pm: Paramilitary troops and police ordered to stay alert for deployment. 5:00 pm: Intense speculation begins on private cable news channels about the imposition of emergency rule.

5:10 pm: All private television channels put off air.

5:30 pm: Trucks carrying paramilitary troops move towards the Supreme Court, parliament and headquarters of state television in Islamabad.

Soon after, dozens of police officers surrounded the Supreme Court building, and order the justices to take an oath under the PCO, or be dismissed. Seven of the court’s 11 justices reject the order, issuing their own legal order, calling General Musharraf’s declaration unlawful and urging military officials to not abide by it.

5:20 pm: Pakistani TV stations report that state of emergency is imminent. [BBC}

5:40 pm: Private TV stations go off air. [BBC}

6:11 pm: Announcement of emergency rule released on state media without giving details.

Around 6:30 pm: Reports say paramilitary troops deployed to radio and TV station, as police surround the Supreme Court. [BBC]
All telephone lines, mobile phones disconnected. Police arrest opposition lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan and raid offices of other lawyers in Quetta, Karachi and Lahore. [Dawn]

7:00 pm Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is told his "services are no longer required", media report. It is also reported that the constitution has been suspended. [BBC]

7:10 pm Former PM Benazir Bhutto is said to be on her way back to Pakistan from Dubai. [BBC]

7:30 pm Leading lawyer and opposition leader Aitzaz Ahsan is detained. [BBC]

Around 8:00 pm: Former Premier Benazir Bhutto boards flight from Dubai to Karachi.

8:45 pm The chief justice and other judges leave the court in a convoy under police escort, witnesses say. [BBC]

8:50 pm State TV says new chief justice appointed. [BBC]

9:00 pm: Television channels report Musharraf has appointed Abdul Hameed Dogar new chief justice to replace Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. [Dawn}

9:10 pm Paramilitary troops surround Benazir Bhutto's house in Karachi, witnesses say. [BBC]

9:15 pm US state department says it is "deeply disturbed" by emergency rule. [BBC]

9:40 pm UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband says it is vital Pakistan holds free and fair elections on schedule. [BBC]

10:30 pm: Bhutto arrives in Pakistan. [Dawn]

10:50 White House National Security Council expresses disappointment and calls on Gen Musharraf to step down as army chief before retaking the presidential oath. [BBC]

11:40 Gen Musharraf goes on TV to say he is saving Pakistan from "suicide". [BBC]
General Musharraf appears on PTV. In a 45-minute speech, he says he has declared the "emergency" to limit terrorist attacks and “preserve the democratic transition that I initiated eight years back.� [Dawn]


Sunday 4th November

1:00 am Opposition figure and former national cricket captain Imran Khan has been put under house arrest, an aide announces. [BBC]

3:55 am Benazir Bhutto tells BBC the declaration of an emergency has moved Pakistan towards a dictatorship. [BBC]

12:00 am, Sunday: Government announces media curbs. (Dawn, Posted @ 16:05 PST)

Minister of State for Information Tariq Azim Khan says elections in Pakistan, due in January, may be rescheduled following the imposition of emergency rule. [Reut ers]

11:54 pm "Obviously we are going to have to review the situation with aid, in part because we have to see what may be triggered by certain statutes," said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. [Reuters]


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Sources:
Time line- Pakistan in crisis
'Phone call' that led to emergency, The Nation
Emergency in Pakistan: Timeline as it Happened, Dawn
Timeline: Pakistan emergency rule
Straying Partner Leaves White House in a Lurch, New York Times
Mu sharraf Warned Not to Impose Emergency Rule, New York Times
U.S. to review Pakistanian aid