12 Questions
Who became the first President of Pakistan in 1956?
Iskander Mirza
Which leader implemented Islamic laws and nationalized major industries in Pakistan during the 1970s?
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Who introduced Sharia law in Pakistan during the 1980s?
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
Which Prime Minister of Pakistan introduced economic reforms in the 1990s?
Benazir Bhutto
In what year did the general election lead to the secession of East Pakistan (Bangladesh)?
1971
Who seized power in a military coup in 1958 in Pakistan?
Ayub Khan
Who became President of Pakistan in 2001?
Pervez Musharraf
What action led to Musharraf's resignation in 2008?
Facing impeachment proceedings
Which leader was disqualified from office in 2017 over corruption charges?
Nawaz Sharif
In which year was Imran Khan ousted from office in a no-confidence vote?
2022
Which province saw religious parties gain power despite Musharraf's crackdown on extremism?
North West Frontier Province
What action did Musharraf take in 2007 that led to protests and his eventual resignation?
Declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution
Study Notes
- Early History*
- Pakistan was formed in 1947 upon the partition of British India.
- Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the first Governor-General of Pakistan.
- Liaquat Ali Khan became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.
- The country faced challenges including ethnic tensions, economic instability, and the Kashmir dispute with India.
- 1950s*
- Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in 1951.
- Ghulam Mohammad became Governor-General and dismissed Prime Minister Khawaja Nazimuddin.
- The first Constituent Assembly drafted Pakistan's constitution.
- Pakistan became an Islamic republic in 1956.
- Iskander Mirza became the first President of Pakistan.
- 1960s*
- Field Marshal Ayub Khan seized power in a military coup in 1958.
- Yahya Khan became President in 1969.
- The 1970 general election led to the secession of East Pakistan (Bangladesh) in 1971.
- 1970s*
- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1973.
- Bhutto implemented Islamic laws and nationalized major industries.
- General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq seized power in a military coup in 1977.
- Zia-ul-Haq promoted Islamic fundamentalism and supported the Afghan resistance against the Soviet Union.
- 1980s*
- Zia-ul-Haq introduced Sharia law in Pakistan.
- The Soviet-Afghan War ended in 1989.
- 1990s*
- Benazir Bhutto became Pakistan's first female Prime Minister in 1988.
- Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister in 1990 and introduced economic reforms.
- Bhutto and Sharif alternated as Prime Minister throughout the decade.
- Both leaders faced allegations of corruption and authoritarianism.
- 1998*
- Nawaz Sharif attempted to dismiss Army Chief Pervez Musharraf.
- Musharraf staged a military coup and seized power.
- Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998.
- 2000s*
- Musharraf became President in 2001.
- Pakistan joined the US-led War on Terror after the 9/11 attacks.
- Musharraf faced international pressure to end nuclear proliferation.
- Musharraf resigned in 2008 after facing impeachment proceedings.
- Asif Ali Zardari became President in 2008.
- 2010s*
- Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister for a third term in 2013.
- Sharif was disqualified from office in 2017 over corruption charges.
- Imran Khan became Prime Minister in 2018.
- 2020s*
- Imran Khan was ousted from office in a no-confidence vote in 2022.
- Shehbaz Sharif became Prime Minister in 2022.- Pakistan faced pressure from the US to fight in Afghanistan after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
- Pakistan's army shifted its focus from Islamisation to supporting extremist groups, using them to fight Indian forces in Kashmir.
- Pakistan supported the Taliban in Afghanistan, aiming to gain control over Afghanistan's politics.
- After 9/11, Pakistan allied with the US against the Taliban, leading to resentment among Islamic conservatives within Pakistan.
- Despite Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism, the US continued to accuse it of not doing enough.
- General Musharraf declared himself President for a second five-year term in 2002, despite constitutional amendments.
- Religious parties opposed Musharraf's secularising reforms, gaining power in the North West Frontier Province.
- Despite Musharraf's crackdown on religious extremism, Pakistan's ISI and army continued to support Islamist groups in Kashmir.
- India and Pakistan signed a ceasefire agreement in November 2003, but ceasefire violations continued.
- Islamic terrorist attacks led to two assassination attempts on Musharraf's life.
- Constitutional amendments by Musharraf in December 2003 shifted powers from the Prime Minister to the President.
- Shaukat Aziz became Prime Minister in 2004, but Musharraf retained real power.
- Musharraf faced criticism for attempting to secularise Pakistan.
- Pakistan's Supreme Court dismissed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in 2007, leading to protests.
- Musharraf declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution in 2007, but later resigned.
- Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in 2007 to challenge Musharraf in elections.
- Benazir Bhutto was assassinated during her election campaign, leading to protests and a one-month postponement of elections.
- The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won the 2008 elections, and Yousaf Raza Gilani became Prime Minister.
- Impeachment proceedings were initiated against Musharraf in August 2008, but he resigned before they could be completed.
- Asif Ali Zardari became President in 2008.
- The Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008 strained relations between Pakistan and India.
- Nawaz Sharif was convicted of corruption and banned from holding political office in 2009.
- Pakistan's Supreme Court reinstated Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister in 2013, after a five-year democratic government.
- Nawaz Sharif's third term focused on economic reforms, infrastructure development, and improved relations with neighbours.
- Pakistan faced a debt crisis in 2018 due to loans from China under the Belt and Road Initiative.
- The Panama Papers scandal in 2015 implicated Nawaz Sharif and his family in corruption, leading to his disqualification from office in 2017.
- Shahid Khaqan Abbasi became Prime Minister in 2017 after Nawaz Sharif's resignation.
- Imran Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf party won the 2018 elections.
- Pakistan faced a debt crisis under Imran Khan due to the US suspending military aid.
- China and Saudi Arabia provided financial assistance to Pakistan.
- The Pulwama attack in India in 2019 led to airstrikes by the Indian Air Force on Pakistan.
- Pakistan closed down religious schools in an attempt to combat terrorism.
- General Pervez Musharraf was sentenced to death in absentia in 2019 for imposing martial law in 2007.
- Pakistan has faced challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, including a lack of sufficient testing.
Test your knowledge on Pakistan's historical timeline from its formation in 1947 to recent political events in the 2020s. Explore key events, leaders, and challenges faced by Pakistan over the decades.
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