Chronology of events in Pakistan since Musharraf's coup

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is to seek re-election for another five years in a parliamentary vote on Saturday.
      
Following is a brief chronology of major political developments in Pakistan since 1999 when, as army chief, Musharraf seized power:
      
Oct 12, 1999: Musharraf overthrows prime minister Nawaz Sharif after Sharif sacks him as army chief.

May 13, 2000: Supreme Court validates coup.

December, 2000: Sharif is freed from prison on hijacking and corruption charges, exiled to Saudi Arabia and banned from returning to Pakistan for 10 years.
      
June 20, 2001: Musharraf declares himself president after the incumbent, Mohammad Rafiq Tarar, resigns.

September 11, 2001: Musharraf drops support for Taliban and allies Pakistan with Washington after 9/11 attacks.

December, 2001: India and Pakistan deploy hundreds of thousands of troops on their border after New Delhi blames Islamabad for a militant attack on the Indian parliament.

January, 2002: Musharraf announces major crackdown on Islamic extremists.

April 30, 2002: Musharraf wins controversial national referendum on his rule.
      
Oct 10, 2002: Pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid wins general elections.

Nov 16, 2002: Musharraf sworn in for a fresh five-year term.

Dec, 2003: Musharraf escapes two assassination attempts, one by Islamist military officers and the other by Al-Qaeda.
      
Jan 1, 2004: Musharraf wins parliamentary vote of confidence affirming his unelected rule until 2007.

Feb, 2004: Musharraf pardons nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan for leaking nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

May 14, 2004: Pakistan readmitted to Commonwealth.
      
Dec 30, 2004: Musharraf reneges on promise to quit as army chief.
       
July, 2004: Musharraf launches new crackdown on militancy after it emerges that some of the bombers who targeted London's transport system visited Pakistan.
      
Sept, 2006: Government signs controversial peace deal with militants in tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.
      
Mar 9, 2007: Musharraf sacks chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, sparking protests.

May 12, 2007: Political violence in Karachi leaves 43 dead.

July 3-10, 2007: Pakistani troops besiege and storm the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad, killing at least 100 people.
 
July, 2007: Chaudhry reinstated by the Supreme Court.
      
Aug 9, 2007: Musharraf decides not to impose a state of emergency in Pakistan.
      
Sept 10, 2007: Sharif returns from exile following a Supreme Court order and is deported hours later.

Sept 18, 2007: Musharraf's lawyer says he will step down as army chief by November 15 if he wins election.
      
Sept 28, 2007: Supreme Court rules Musharraf can run in presidential polls.

Oct 2, 2007: Musharraf appoints former intelligence chief Ashfaq Kiyani to be his successor as army chief.

Oct 4, 2007: Bhutto and Musharraf agree on national reconciliation accord.

Oct 5, 2007: Supreme Court rules that result of election cannot be announced until October 17 while it resolves legal challenges to the vote. Musharraf signs deal for Bhutto amnesty.

Oct 6, 2007: Presidential election in Pakistan.