Musharraf lifts 41-day state of emergency

Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday lifted the 41-day emergency rule and restored the constitution after making amendments to six of its articles, ahead of the January 8 general elections.

The president repealed a provisional constitution order (PCO) that he had promulgated while imposing emergency on November 3 as army chief, a post he later quit and took oath as civilian head of state for a five-year term.

Musharraf scrapped the extra-constitutional measures through an order after which judges of superior courts took a fresh oath under the revived constitution and the government said fundamental rights of citizens now stood restored.

The president administered the oath to Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and four judges of the Federal Sharia Court, including its head, at a ceremony at the presidency in Islamabad.

Later, Dogar administered the oath to the 13 other judges of the Supreme Court.

Attorney General Malek Mohammad Qayyum said Musharraf's moves sealed the retirement of purged Supreme Court judges, including former Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Timeline: A year of turmoil

• March 9, 2007: 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 ex-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.
• September 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.
• October 2: Musharraf's government announces it will drop graft charges against Bhutto, clearing the way for her return.
• October 6: Musharraf wins a presidential vote by legislators. Supreme Court holds off confirming legality of vote.
• October 19: Suicide bomber tries to assassinate Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of exile. Nearly 140 people are killed in one of the country's deadliest attacks.
• November 2: Supreme Court reconvenes to decide if Musharraf was eligible to stand for re-election while army chief.
• November 3: Musharraf imposes emergency rule, detaining thousands of opposition politicians and lawyers.
• November 11: Musharraf says election will be held by January 8.
• November 15: Musharraf appoints Mohammadmian Soomro to head a caretaker line-up to oversee elections.
• November 22: Commonwealth suspends Pakistan.
• November 25: Sharif returns.
• November 28: A tearful Musharraf hands over army command to General Ashfaq Kayani.
• November 29: Musharraf is sworn in as a civilian leader and sets date for lifting emergency.
• December 9: Sharif says he will take part in January 8 election, rather than boycott.
• December 15: Musharraf lifts the state of emergency and restores the constitution.