The Nine Lives of Pakistan

1849

The British captured Peshawar, and the Pashtuns entered the 'Great Game' (imperial rivalry between British Raj and Tsarist Russia).

1857

The Mughal Empire officially collapsed.

1861

The Murree Brewery was established in Rawalpindi.

1890s

Muhammad Ali Jinnah went to London to study law.

1900s - Early 20th Century

Abdul Ghaffar Khan's non-violent movement against British rule began in Pashtun areas.

1912 - Jinnah's Purchase

Jinnah bought the 'South Court' property in Bombay.

1918 - Jinnah's Marriage

Jinnah married Ruttie Dinshaw.

1919 - Amritsar Massacre

British forces killed unarmed protesters in Amritsar.

1920 - Pashtun Uprising Suppression

British Viceroy Frederick Thesiger suppressed the Pashtun uprising in Waziristan.

1924 - Ottoman Caliphate Abolished

The Ottoman Caliphate collapsed, ending the idea of an Islamic Caliphate.

1928

Princess Abida Sultan was recognized as the heir apparent.

1929

Ruttie, Jinnah's wife, passed away.

1930

Hundreds of unarmed supporters of Abdul Ghaffar Khan were massacred in Peshawar by British soldiers.

1930s

Malik Ghulam Jilani, father of Asma Jahangir, became a landowner.

1933

Chaudhry Rahmat Ali presented the idea of 'Pakistan' to Jinnah.

1935 - Quetta Earthquake

A devastating earthquake destroyed the city of Quetta, killing 60,000 people.

1936 - Pashtun Uprising

The Pashtun uprising led by Faqir of Ipi began in Waziristan.

1939 - Nawab Akbar Bugti's Ascension

Nawab Akbar Shahbaz Khan Bugti came to power at the age of twelve.

1940 - Jinnah's Demand

Jinnah formally demanded an independent Muslim state at a session in Lahore.

1946 - Calcutta Riots

The Calcutta riots resulted in 4,000 deaths.

June 1947

Lord Mountbatten announced the plan for the partition of British India.

August 14, 1947

Pakistan was born as an independent nation; the partition of British India led to severe violence and mass migration.

1948

The ISI was established by General William Cawthorne.

January 1948

Jinnah requested a $2 billion loan from the United States but received $10 million.

July 1948

Jinnah and his sister traveled to Ziarat, Balochistan.

1948 (September 11)

Muhammad Ali Jinnah passed away.

1949 (March)

The Parliament of Pakistan passed a law declaring Pakistan the world's first "Islamic Republic."

1950s

The first Baloch uprisings began in Balochistan.

1951

Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, was assassinated.

1953 (Spring)

Riots against Ahmadis began in Punjab.

1953 (Summer)

Temporary military rule declared in Lahore (first experience of direct military governance).

1953

Nawab Bugti traveled to London for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.

1959

Ayub Khan and Nehru negotiated the water treaty.

1960

The capital was moved from Karachi to Islamabad.

1960

Faqir of Ipi passed away in his bed.

1960s

Minor uprisings continued in Balochistan.

1963

Jackie Kennedy visited Pakistan.

1965

War with India over Kashmir began.

1971

Separation of East Pakistan (Bangladesh).

1971

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came to power.

1973

A widespread Baloch insurgency began across the province.

1977

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was overthrown by General Zia-ul-Haq in a military coup.

1978

Asma Jahangir graduated from law school.

1979

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed; Zia-ul-Haq introduced strict Islamic laws (Hudood Ordinances).

1979 - Soviet Invasion of Kabul

Soviet tanks invaded Kabul, sparking the Mujahideen's war against the Soviets.

1980s - ISI and CIA Collaboration

ISI collaborated with the CIA to support the Mujahideen in Afghanistan; a network of radical mosques and schools was funded by Saudi Arabia.

1983 - Salman Taseer's Arrest

Salman Taseer was arrested and tortured in Lahore Fort.

1985 - Shahnawaz Bhutto's Mysterious Death

Shahnawaz, Benazir Bhutto's brother, was mysteriously poisoned.

1986 - Benazir Bhutto's Return

Benazir Bhutto returned from exile and was warmly welcomed by the people.

1988

General Zia-ul-Haq died in a mysterious air crash; Benazir Bhutto became Prime Minister.

1988 (May)

Stored munitions at Ojhri Camp (ISI depot) exploded.

1993

Asma Jahangir defended two Christian teenagers accused of blasphemy; Salman Taseer was beaten by police in Lahore.

1994

The Taliban, led by Mullah Mohammad Omar, came to power in Afghanistan.

1995

Karachi police launched a major operation against MQM.

1996 - Murtaza Bhutto's Death

Murtaza, brother of Benazir Bhutto, was killed by police.

1997 - Benazir Bhutto's Exile

Benazir Bhutto went into exile; details of her corruption were revealed.

1998 - Nuclear Tests and Attacks

Pakistan conducted nuclear tests; Al-Qaeda attacked US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania; Abdullah Ghazi, father of Abdul Rashid Ghazi, was assassinated.

1999 - Musharraf's Coup

General Pervez Musharraf ousted Nawaz Sharif in a military coup.

1999 - Samia Sarwar's Honor Killing

Samia Sarwar, a victim of honor killing, was murdered in Asma Jahangir's office.

2000

Masood Azhar gave a speech at the Red Mosque calling for jihad in Kashmir.

2001 (September)

September 11 attacks in the United States.

2002

Daniel Pearl, an American journalist, was executed in Karachi.

2004 (Summer)

Declan Walsh moved to Pakistan.

2005 (Spring)

Asma Jahangir organized a mixed-gender race in Lahore, which was suppressed by the police.

February 2005

The Bugti tribes attacked the Sui gas refinery.

April 2006

Nawab Bugti met with journalists in the Zainko mountains.

August 2006

Nawab Bugti was killed in a military operation.

March 2007

Musharraf dismissed Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the Chief Justice.

Summer 2007

The siege of the Red Mosque in Islamabad.

July 2007

Abdul Rashid Ghazi was killed in the Red Mosque siege.

October 2007

Benazir Bhutto returned from exile and was attacked in Karachi (149 killed).

November 2007

Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule; Benazir Bhutto and Asma Jahangir were released from house arrest.

December 27, 2007

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Rawalpindi.

2008

Terrorist attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.

August 2008

Pervez Musharraf resigned from the presidency.

2008

Asif Ali Zardari, husband of Benazir Bhutto, became president.

Spring 2009

The Sharif brothers called for protests in Islamabad; Musharraf activated governor's rule.

June 2009

Asia Bibi was arrested in Ittanwali on charges of blasphemy.

November 2010

Asia Bibi was sentenced to death.

January 2011

Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, was assassinated by his bodyguard, Mumtaz Qadri.

March 2011

Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities, was assassinated.

August 2011

Shahbaz Taseer, son of Salman Taseer, was kidnapped.

December 2012

Ardeshir Cowasjee, a prominent journalist, passed away.

May 2013

Declan Walsh was expelled from Pakistan for "undesirable activities."

2013 - Jinnah's House Burned

Mohammad Ali Jinnah's house in Ziarat was set on fire by Baloch separatists.

2014 - Chaudhry Aslam Killed

Chaudhry Aslam, a renowned Karachi police officer, was killed in a suicide bombing.

2014 - Peshawar School Attack

Taliban attacked the Army Public School in Peshawar, resulting in 149 deaths.

2015 - Declan Walsh's Story Published

Declan Walsh's story about the Axact company (Bol TV) was published in The New York Times.

2016 - Mumtaz Qadri Executed

Mumtaz Qadri was executed.

2016

Shahbaz Taseer escaped captivity.

2017

Suicide attack at Sehwan Sharif shrine (90 killed).

2018 (February)

Asma Jahangir passed away.

2018

Imran Khan was elected Prime Minister; Nawaz Sharif was jailed for corruption.

2018 (August)

Asia Bibi was released from prison.

December 2018

Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, known as the 'Father of the Taliban', was assassinated.

July 2019

Hafiz Saeed, leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was arrested.

December 2019

The Modi government in India passed a law restricting citizenship for Muslims.