Let’s pray for PAKISTAN which has been in turmoil for a long time, especially after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Here’s a chronology of recent major political events in Pakistan:
March 9, 2007 - President Pervez Musharraf suspends Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry over allegations of misconduct. Lawyers rally around the top judge and Musharraf’s popularity plummets.
July 10 - Musharraf orders troops to storm the Red Mosque in Islamabad to crush a Taliban-style movement there. At least 105 people are killed. 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 former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi for inconclusive talks on how to move the country towards a civilian-led democracy. Bhutto demands that Musharraf step down as army chief.
Sept 10 - Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is arrested at Islamabad airport on his arrival from exile, despite the Supreme Court clearing his return. He is deported to Saudi Arabia.
Oct 2 – Musharraf’s government announces it will drop graft charges against Bhutto, clearing the way for her return.
Oct 6 - Musharraf wins a presidential vote by legislators. Supreme Court holds off confirming legality of vote.
Oct 19 - Suicide bomber tries to assassinate Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of exile. At least 139 people are killed in one of the country’s deadliest attacks.
Nov 2 - Supreme Court reconvenes to decide if Musharraf was eligible to stand for re-election while remaining as army chief.
Nov 3 - Musharraf imposes emergency rule, detaining thousands of opposition politicians and lawyers.
Nov 11 - Musharraf says election will be held by January 8.
Nov 13 - Bhutto is placed under house arrest for a week in Lahore, hours before a planned march against emergency rule. Bhutto says Musharraf must quit as president.
Nov 14 - Sharif says he is ready to work with Bhutto.
Nov 15 - Musharraf appoints Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro to head a caretaker government to oversee elections.
Nov 25 - Sharif returns from exile.
Nov 28 - A tearful Musharraf hands over command of the army to General Ashfaq Kayani.
Nov 29 - Musharraf is sworn in as a civilian leader.
Nov 30 - Bhutto publishes her manifesto for the January election, keeping open the option of boycotting the vote.
Dec 9 - Sharif says he will take part in January 8 election.
Dec 15 - Musharraf lifts state of emergency and restores the constitution.
Dec 27 - Bhutto is assassinated in a gun and bomb attack after a rally in Rawalpindi. At least 16 people die in all.
Dec 28 - Benazir Bhutto is buried in her home province of Sindh in the south.
Dec 30 - Benazir Bhutto’s party names her son and husband to succeed the slain opposition leader but doubts grew about whether a Jan. 8 poll aiming to transform Pakistan from military rule would go ahead.
Prayer points:
- Freedom and democracy to prevail. Elections to be held soon.
- To solve problems by peaceful means, not violence.
- Against Muslim extremists and terrorists using Pakistan as a base of operation.
- The Church to be strong in persecution, and to be the light in a dark place.
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