2008 in Pakistan

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Events from the year 2008 in Pakistan.

Incumbents

Federal government

• President:
  • until 18 August: Pervez Musharraf
  • 18 August-9 September: Muhammad Mian Soomro
  • starting 9 September: Asif Ali Zardari
• Prime Minister: Muhammad Mian Soomro (acting) (starting 16 November)
• Chief Justice: Abdul Hameed Dogar (acting)

Governors

• Governor of Balochistan – Owais Ahmed Ghani (until 5 January); Nawab Zulfikar Ali Magsi (starting 5 January)
• Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – Ali Jan Aurakzai (until 7 January); Owais Ahmed Ghani (starting 7 January)
• Governor of Punjab – Khalid Maqbool (until 16 May); Salmaan Taseer (starting 16 May)
• Governor of Sindh – Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan

Events

January

• 2 January – Pakistan announces that elections originally scheduled for 8 January will be postponed until the 18 February, following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
• 3 January – Benazir Bhutto assassination: President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf denies any role in Benazir Bhutto's death. (CNN)
• 11 January – Beginning of Islamic Hijri year 1429 First of Muharram on Friday 11 January 2008.
• 19 January - Saturday 9th of Muharram, Official holiday in Pakistan in memory of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain
• 20 January – Sunday 10th of Muharram, Ashura, an official holiday in Pakistan-In memory of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain
• 31 January – The United States announces that Abu Laith al-Libi, a senior commander of Al-Qaeda who recruited and trained operatives, was killed in a missile strike in northwest Pakistan

February

• 9 February – 15 People are killed in an election rally in Charsada. ^[1]
• 11 February – Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan is believed to have been kidnapped by suspected pro-Taliban militants. ^[2]
• 12 February – The Government of Pakistan steps up security for "fair, transparent and peaceful" elections scheduled for 18 February. ^[3]
• 13 February – Pakistan test fires a nuclear capable short range ballistic missile. ^[4]
• Two suspects confessed to a judge that they helped to arm the suicide bomber who killed Bhutto. ^[5]
• 14 February – Three soldiers are killed by a bomb explosion near Khair, Surabaja.
• 15 February – Pakistan announces the arrest of a fifth man in connection with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. ^[6]
• Pakistan and India agree to double the number of flights between the two nations. ^[7]
• 16 February – 37 people are killed in a bombing in the town of Parachinar at an election rally. ^[8]
• 18 February – Elections take place in Pakistan.
• 19 February – Election results show that President Musharraf's party Pakistan Muslim League (Q) have received a heavy defeat. ^[9]
• 21 February – Pakistan's two main opposition parties agree to form a coalition following the elections. ^[10]
• 29 February – At least 45 people died and 82 were wounded in a suicide attack on the funeral February 29, 2008 of a district superintendent of police – killed earlier in the day in a separate attack – in Swat province. ^[11]

March

• 22 March – The PPP nominate Yousaf Raza Gillani to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
• 25 March – Yousaf Raza Gillani is sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan. ^[12]
• 24 March – Prime minister Gillani vows to free judges who were detained during emergency rule. ^[13]
• 29 March – PM Gillani announces to the National Assembly that the fight against terrorism will be the top priority of the new government. ^[14]

April

• 1 April – The new government of Pakistan announces that it will rethink the policy on militants. ^[15]
• 15 April – President Musharraf announces he is lobbying the Chinese government to build gas and oil pipelines. ^[16]
• 16 April – The Olympic torch arrives in Pakistan. ^[17]
• 19 April – Taliban rebels release a video of Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan who they are holding as a hostage. ^[18]

May

• 12 May – PML (N) quits the cabinet, following the failure to restore judges. ^[19]
• 16 May – Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Tariq Azizuddin was set free by kidnappers. ^[20]
• 17 May – Lawyers announced their plan for Long March to be held on 10 June, for the Restoration of Judges. ^[21]

June

• 1 June – Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed left Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and formed his new Party, Awami Muslim League.
• 2 June – Car bomb attack near Denmark Embassy kills 8 people. . ^[22]

July

• 6 July – A suicide bomber attacked a police station in Islamabad killing 12 policemen and seven civilians in a rally marking the first anniversary of Lal Masjid siege. ^[23]

August

• 12 August – First National Youth Awards conferred.
• 18 August – President Pervez Musharraf, faced with the prospect of being impeached, resigns from the office of president.
• 19 August – 32 people were killed while 55 injured in an attack in Dera Ismail Khan carried by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
• 23 August – At least 15 people were killed in a suicide attack at a police check post in Char Bagh area of Swat. Also, three persons including two kids were killed in a bomb blast in Abuha. ^[24]

September

• 9 September – Asif Ali Zardari became 11th President of Pakistan
• 20 September – The Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing executed by unidentified terrorists kills 54 people and injures 266.

See also

• 2008 in Pakistani television
• List of Pakistani films of 2008

References

1. Pakistan election rally bomb kills 15 - CNN
2. Pakistani diplomat still missing
3. Pakistan boosts security for election - CNN
4. Pakistan tests ballistic missile
5. Two admit arming Bhutto suicide bomber
6. Fifth man arrested in Bhutto case - BBC News
7. India-Pakistan flights to double
8. Call for calm after Pakistan bomb - BBC News
9. Are Musharraf's days numbered? - BBC
10. Pakistan parties agree coalition
11. "45 killed in Pakistan funeral blast – CNN.com". CNN. 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
12. New Pakistan PM Gillani sworn in
13. Pakistan PM vows to free judges - BBC News
14. Pakistani PM vows to fight terror
15. Pakistan rethinks US policy on militants - BBC News
16. Musharraf makes Chinese oil plea - BBC News
17. Olympic torch relay in Pakistan
18. Pakistan envoy: I am Taliban hostage - CNN
19. PML (N) Quits Government - DAWN News
20. Pakistani Ambassador set free - DAWN News
21. Lawyer Announced to go for Long March
22. Blast near Denmark Embassy - DAWN News
23. "Suicide blast targeting police kills 16 at Pakistan rally – CNN.com". Cnn.com. 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
24. "15 feared dead in Swat suicide bombings". Archived from the original on 2009-06-18. Retrieved 2010-05-28.