Timeline Pakistan 2008

January 1: Former PPP Senator Latif Khosa says Benazir Bhutto was to hand over dossier to visiting US lawmakers with proof that the intelligence agencies are involved in poll-rigging on the day of her death. The Pakistani government denies the statement.

January 2: The Election Commission announces elections will now be held on February 18, in light of the damage caused to the polling stations and electoral material following Ms. Bhutto’s death.

President Musharraf addresses the nation, says Scotland Yard will help Pakistani authorities in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination probe.

PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari again asks for a UN led investigation into the late Ms. Bhutto’s assassination. However, the US government says there is no need for a UN-led investigation as the Scotland Yard is now heading the probe.

January 3: President Musharraf meets with the foreign press, says he is not satisfied with the investigation into Ms. Bhutto’s assassination, also says he is not from a family that believes in killing people when asked to answer allegations that he was involved in Benazir’s death.

January 4: Scotland Yard team arrives in Pakistan to start investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

January 7: New York Times says the U.S. is considering a covert operation in Pakistan’s tribal regions to flush out Al-Qaeda militants, ISPR rejects the report.

Suspected militants fatally shoot eight tribal leaders involved in efforts to broker a cease-fire between security forces and insurgents in South Waziristan.

8 security personnel are killed in Kabal, Swat when a suicide bomber blows himself up near the Kabbal golf course.

January 8: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addresses a press conference in London, says Pakistan will disintegrate if fair and free elections are not held.

January 9: Anti-terrorism investigators from Scotland Yard deliver a confidential report of their preliminary findings of Benazir Bhutto’s killing to President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday, according to a report published in the Chicago Tribune

January 10: Over 20 are killed and dozens injured as a suicide bomb attack takes place outside the Lahore High Court.

January 12: NYT reporter expelled from Pakistan for his article Next-Gen Taliban.

Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is served eviction notice to vacate his residence in the Judges Colony, where he has been confined since November 3. Mr. Chaudhry refuses, saying he is still the legal Chief Justice and ex-judges are alllowed 6 months before vacating residences.

Ex-Supreme Court judge Rana Bhagwandas, who had not taken an oath under the PCO is placed under house arrest, after administering oath to new Karachi Bar Association members.

Fatima Bhutto, daughter of the late Murtaza Bhutto, says dynastic politics should end, also calls for Ms. Bhutto’s will to be made public.

January 13: In an interview to a US magazine, President Musharraf calls for the exhumation of the late Ms. Bhutto’s body as he rejects charges that the government was complicit in her assassination.

January 14: Eleven people are killed and over 30 are injured in a bomb blast in Quaidabad, Karachi.

January 15: Interior Ministry says all of Pakistan’s political leaderships lives are in danger.

January 16: PPP contacts the United Nations to hold an independent probe into Benazir Bhutto’s death.

Militants seize control of the Sararogha Fort in South Waziristan, killing seven army personnel, 40 militants also die in the clash according to the ISPR. Reports say 25 army personnel are missing or dead, however sources in the area say the death toll of the army personnel may be higher.

January 17: A suspected suicide attack in an Imambargah in Peshawar leaves over 10 dead and over 20 people injured.

January 18: CIA Director Michael Hayden blames Al-Qaeda and Baitullah Mehsud for Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

ISPR says at least 90 militants have been killed and 4 soldiers injured in separate clashes that took place in Chagmalai and Ladha Fort between the Pakistani army and militants.

January 19: A 15 year old boy is arrested who claims to be part of the 5-member group headed by Baitullah Mehsud involved in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Baitullah Mehsud denies any link to the suspect.

Karachi police arrest 5 terrorists including a would be suicide bomber. The terrorists allegedly plotted to mix cyanaide in water to give to the mourners in the Ashura processions.

January 21: President Musharraf says the West is obsessed with democracy and human rights when addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.

Geo News and Geo Super resume transmission all over the country.

January 22: The State Bank of Pakistan says Pakistan received a total of 2.19 billion dollars foreign investment during the first six months of the current financial year, registering a decline of 12 per cent.

January 23: A fire engulfs a paint factory in Karachi’s industrial area, leaving 5 injured. Fumes and smoke from the fire darken the sky, as environmental experts fear the fumes may cause serious damage to the environment and the lives of people working in the area.

January 24: President Musharraf addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos, and criticizes Pakistan’s nuclear bomb being called the ‘Islamic Bomb’. He also says he has upheld Pakistan’s constitution and laws, and warned against judging Pakistan by “misconceived” standards of Western democracy.

The ISPR says 8 soldiers have been killed and 32 injured in fighting in South Waziristan in 24 hours. The ISPR also says forty miscreants have been killed, 30 miscreants apprehended and many have been injured in South Waziristan.

January 27: The New York Times say Pakistan has rebuffed a CIA proposal for an increased role in the war in the tribal regions.

The ISPR says the military has seized control of the Kohat tunnel that was taken over by militants on Jan 26

January 28: Armed militants take 250 schoolchildren hostage in Bannu, the militants later free the children and surrender to tribal elders.

January 29: 2 policemen and 3 militants are killed, with 4 militants being arrested after a police-militant shootout in Landhi, Karachi. The militants allegedly belong to the Pakistani Jundullah, a banned militant outfit. The group is reported to be responsible for the PACC and Christian library bomb blasts, along with an attack on the Corps Commander’s convoy in 2004 in Karachi.

January 31: Lawyers all over Pakistan commemorate Iftikhar Day with rallies and vow to continue their struggle for the independence of the judiciary and restoration of the deposed judges.

Senior lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan’s 90-day detention period expires, and he appears in public for the first time in 90 days. However, a new detention order is issued, extending his detention for another 30 days. Aitzaz says the detention order cannot be extended without the approval of a review board.

Retired generals from the Ex-Servicemen Society say President Musharraf should step down and hand over power to deposed CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry.

February 1: Aitzaz Ahsan’s detention orders are withdrawn, Aitzaz addresses lawyers, vows to continue struggle for independence of judiciary.

Detained lawyer Ali Ahmed Kurd and Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood released from house arrest.

H5N1 strain of bird flu virus detected in chickens in Karachi

February 2: Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood given 30-day detention order, is placed under house arrest again.

Aitzaz Ahsan is banned from entering Sindh for 30 days and turned back from Lahore airport. A new 30-day detention order is served on him.

Caretaker Information Minister Nisar Memon warns the media to behave; says channels violating code of conduct will have their licenses revoked. Nisar Memon also says ex-Servicemen Society should form a political party instead of issuing demands.

February 4: A bomb blast in front of the National Logistics Cell in Rawalpindi leaves 6 dead.

February 5: PPP releases the late Ms. Bhutto’s political will which names her husband Asif Zardari as her political heir.

February 6: An army helicopter crashes in South Waziristan, leaving 8 people dead including the commanding officer of the Kohat garrison. The ISPR says the helicopter crash is due to a technical fault.

February 7: Thousands of people attend Benazir Bhutto’s chehlum in Garhi Khuda Buksh.

February 8: Scotland Yard says Benazir Bhutto’s cause of death was the impact of the blast and not the bullets. PPP says it is discussing the report with its lawyers and says it will hire private investigators to determine who killed Ms. Bhutto and why.

February 9: Asif Zardari addresses first election rally since Ms. Bhutto’s death attended by over a hundred thousand people in Thatta, vows to continue Benazir’s struggle.

A suicide bomber strikes at an ANP rally in Charsadda, NWFP, leaving 27 people dead.

Lawyers, students and civil society members are teargassed and beaten in Islamabad during a rally.

February 10: A U-S official states Osama Bin Laden and Mullah Omar are hiding in Pakistan. Pakistan’s Foreign Office rejects the claim.

The Pakistan Bar Council announces a complete boycott of all courts till February 18th, says judiciary should be restored to pre-Nov 3rd position.

February 11: 8 people are killed and 10 wounded in Mir Ali in a suicide attack.

February 12: The Pakistani envoy to Afghanistan goes missing near the Pak-Afghan border.

Nine people including four journalists are injured in a blast in an election rally in Khuzdar.

February 14: Condolezza Rice expresses fears over violence in the country during the polls, as President Musharraf says agitation after the elections will not be tolerated.

February 15: Human Rights Watch releases an audio recording of the Attorney General Malik Qayyum saying the upcoming elections will be rigged. Qayyum denies allegations, says he will file a suit against HRW.

February 16: 37 people are left dead as a suicide bomber rams his car into a crowd after an election rally.

A suicide bombing outside an army media centre in the Swat valley leaves 2 dead and 8 injured.

Police fire tear gas and lathi charge an APDM rally in Quetta

February 18: Elections are held in Pakistan amidst tight security, allegations of poll rigging are made by PPP and MQM in some areas., 18 people die in poll-related violence.

Results start pouring in, election results show major upsets as Sheikh Rashid and Chaudhry Shujaat of the PML-Q lose their seats, ANP makes gains in NWFP and PML-N makes major gains in Punjab.

February 19: Election results show major upsets,Geo TV reports unofficial results as the PPP is said to have won 87 seats and the PML-N wins 66 seats. PML-Q wins 38 seats as the ANP wins 10 seats.

PML-Q leaders accept results, say elections were free and fair. Asif Zardari of the PPP says it is ready to form a coalition government with the PML-N, as Nawaz Sharif announces he will meet Zardari in Islamabad.

February 21: Asif Zardari, Asfandyar Wali and Nawaz Sharif hold meetings, Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari announce that the PML-N and PPP will form a government in the center.

February 24: PML-Q officially announces that it will be part of the opposition in the next parliament.

February 25: A suicide bomber blows himself up, targeting a Pakistan Army lieutenant general who was driving past the NADRA office in Rawalpindi. The blast leaves 8 including the army official dead and six injured.

February 27: Asfandyar Wali, Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif meet in Islamabad together, agree to restore deposed judges after formation of government.

February 28: Three missile strikes in South Waziristan leave 12 suspected militants dead and 11 injured. Locals say the missiles were fired from a US drone.

February 29: Four police officials are killed in a suicide blast in Mingora, Swat.

A suicide blast at the funeral for the slain police officials leaves over 40 people dead and over 50 injured.

March 2: 40 people including tribal elders are killed when a suicide bomber blows himself up as tribals meet to hold a peace jirga in Darra Adam Khel.

March 3: Aitzaz Ahsan is released from house arrest, files an FIR against President Musharraf and senior government officials for keeping the Chief Justice and his family in illegal detention for over four months. Mr. Ahsan also says the lawyers’ long march has not been cancelled, but postponed to give the new parliament time to restore the deposed judges.

Lawyers are tear-gassed in the Judges Colony in Islamabad after unconfirmed reports said release orders for Iftikhar Chaudhry’s family were issued.

Asif Zardari nominates Qaim Ali Shah for Sindh Chief Minister post and Nisar Khuhro for Leader of Sindh Assembly post.

March 4: Two suicide bombers blow themselves up in the Naval War College carpark in Lahore, leaving 7 people dead and several injured.

March 7: COAS General Ashfaq Kiyani denies there are any differences between the Pakistani army and President Musharraf.

March 9: Black Flag week commences in Pakistan as lawyers and civil society members hold protests throughot Pakistan.

Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif sign the Murree Declaration agreeing to form a coalition government and reinstating the deposed judges through the parliament in 30 days.

March 10: President Musharraf meets with legal aides to discuss options post Murree Declaration, also receives summary from Prime Minister House for convening of National Assembly session.

March 11: Two suicide bomb blasts leave 27 people dead and over 150 people injured in Lahore. The attacks are carried out at the FIA office and an advertising agency in the city.

President Musharraf announces the new National and Provincial assemblies’ sessions are to be held on March 17

March 15: A Turkish aid worker are killed and others including U.S Embassy workers are injured after a bomb blast in a restaurant in Islamabad.

March 16: 20 people are killed in South Waziristan after six missile strikes, reportedly fired from a US drone plane.

March 17: The 13th National Assembly holds its inaugural session, members of the National Assembly take oath on the pre-November 3 constitution.

A suicide bomb attack leaves 2 people including a policeman dead in Mingora, Swat

March 19: PPP leader Fehmida Mirza is elected as the first female speaker of the National Assembly.

PPP Co-chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari arrives in Pakistan and visits the grave of his mother Benazir Bhutto. PPP says Bilawal will announce the name of the Prime Minister’s candidate.

March 22: The PPP officially nominates Yusuf Raza Gilani as its candidate for Prime Minister.

March 24: Yusuf Raza Gilani is elected as the new Prime Minister with 264 votes. The new PM orders the release of all detained judges and asks the NA to pass resolutions calling for a UN-led probe into Benazir Bhutto’s death, and terming Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s hanging in 1979 as a judicial murder.

Barriers are removed outside the Judges Colony in Islamabad as judges are freed from house arrest. On his release, deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry terms his arrest as unconstitutional and says they will continue with their struggle.

March 25: President Musharraf swears in the new Prime Minister; Asif Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and Asfandyar Wali abstain from attending the proceedings.

March 26: In a widely criticized move, US diplomats Negroponte and Boucher arrive in Pakistan to meet political leaders and ensure Pakistan’s support in the War on Terror. However PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif says the new Parliament will decide the future course of action.

March 28: Members of the NWFP assembly are sworn in including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

March 29: Yusuf Raza Gilani gets unanimous vote of confidence from the Parliament, announces a 100-day relief plan and abolishes the PEMRA ordinance.

Police officials attempt to remove deposed judge Justice Ramday’s belongings from his house in Judges Colony Islamabad, PM Gilani orders a reversal of the order and apologizes to Justice Ramday.

March 30: Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif hold a joint press conference in Lahore, Asif Zardari says they will change the system, not faces.

CIA chief Michael Hayden says Al-Qaeda is training Westerners and that Osama Bin Laden is hiding in the Pak-Afghan border region.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan welcomes the PM’s order to abolish the Frontier Crimes Regulations and the truce offer, however says the government must reverse anti-US policies and enforce Sharia in the area.

Lawyer Munir A. Malik is awarded the Dorab Patel Award by the HRCP

Security personnel find 58 bodies in Kohat after sectarian clashes rocked the area for nearly a week.

March 31: Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry arrives in Quetta to visit his family and address the bar.

A 24-member cabinet comprising of 11 members of the PPP, 9 from the PML-N, 2 from the ANP and 1 each from JUI-F and FATA are sworn in by the President.

April 2: COAS Ashfaq Kiyani visits PM house, briefs PM Gilani, Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif about war on terror and security.

Asif Zardari visits MQM headquarters in Karachi, Altaf Hussain and Zardari vow to suspend hostilities, announce that both parties have forgiven each other.

April 6: Nisar Khuhro and Shehla Raza are elected unopposed as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly by a unanimous vote.

April 7: Ex-Chief Minister of Sindh Arbab Rahim is assaulted by PPP workers as he leaves the Sindh Assembly, MQM announces indefinite boycott of Sindh Assembly proceedings in protest.

Qaim Ali Shah is elected Chief Minister of Sindh.

Geo News’ and Ary One World’s transmission is blocked by various cable networks. Information Minister Sherry Rehman says an inquiry will be held into the closure, denies the government was involved in the block.

November 8: PML-Q leader and ex-Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afghan Niazi is held hostage by lawyers in Lahore, is assaulted by alleged lawyers as Aitzaz Ahsan tries to lead him to waiting ambulance.

Aitzaz Ahsan resigns as President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, condemns violence. Political parties condemn attack on Niazi.

April 9: Rival groups of lawyers clash at the City Court in Karachi, 11 people are left dead in the violence. Riots break out in the city as vehicles and a building is torched, over a dozen people are injured.

April 11: Minister of Information Sherry Rehman moves a bill in the National Assembly to repeal PEMRA ordinance.

MQM head Altaf Hussain announces his resignation as party head, however on the insistence of party leaders and workers takes his resignation back.

April 12: PML-N leader Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa is elected as Chief Minister of Punjab, announces end to VIP culture and lists details of expenditures incurred by previous CM Pervaiz Elahi.

April 13: MQM leader Farooq Sattar says the MQM will sit on the opposition benches in the National and Sindh Assembly, blames the PPP for the breakdown in talks.

April 14: Riots break out in Multan over prolonged power cuts, 40 people are injured in the ensuing violence.

April 17: Petrol prices are raised by Rs.3/litre

Harabyar Marri, son of Khair Baksh Marri. is released on bail from a London jail where he was being held on terrorism charges.

April 19: Kidnapped Pakistani envoy Tariq Azizuddin appears in a video broadcast by Al-Arabiya, says he is being held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan who are demanding the release of prisoners in exchange for his release. The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson says Mr. Azizuddin’s release is their top priority.

Extracts of an Asif Zardari interview to the BBC are released, Zardari says he will contest by-elections and become Prime Minister if the need arises.

April 21: The Supreme Court strikes down the graduation requirement to contest elections.

Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi head Maulana Sufi is released as part of a proposed peace deal with the militants.

April 25: Three people are killed and over 25 injured in a bomb blast in Mardan.

April 27: PML-N delegation headed by Shahbaz Sharif fly to Dubai to meet Asif Zardari to end deadlock over judges restoration issue.

April 28: MQM announces it will be part of the provincial government in Sindh with the PPP.

May 1: 15 people are killed in a suicide attack in a mosque in Bara Qambarkhel in the Khyber Agency. The target of the attack is alleged to be militant leader Haji Namdar.

Talks conclude in Dubai between PPP and PML-N, Nawaz Sharif says the judges will be restored, and details will be announced on May 2nd.

May 2: 20 new members of the Sindh cabinet including MQM leaders take oath in Karachi

Nawaz Sharif says the deposed judges will be restored on May 12th through a resolution in the National Assembly

May 5: Election Commission announces 2 month delay in bye-polls. NWFP CM Hoti blames Rehman Malik, says Malik had asked him to ask EC for a delay in the polls.

Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim quits committee formed to draft resolution on restoration of judges.

May 6: A suicide blast in Bannu leaves three people dead.

May 7: 3 people are killed in Karachi during a police operation in Lyari

Election Commission says bye-polls will now be held in June.

May 11: Talks fail in London between the PPP and the PML-N, PML-N says it will decide future course of action in party meeting, but will not destabilize the coalition.

May 12: Supreme Court of Pakitan imposes a gag order on the print and electronic media on reporting any news about the judiciary without clearance from the Supreme Court registrar. Later, the SC withdraws the order and asks the electronic and print media to not air or publish anything derogatory about the judiciary. The hearing of the contempt of court case against Geo Television is scheduled next for May 22.

May 13: PML-N ministers submit resignations to Prime Minister Gilani, who refuses to accept resignations till Zardari’s arrival in Pakistan.

May 14: Talks between the NWFP government and militants are successful, the army starts pulling out from South Waziristan. 30 prisoners are released by the army and 12 security officials are released by the militants.

PPP leader Asif Zardari holds press conference in Islamabad, says will continue to work with PML-N. Zardari reiterates that the government will restore the deposed judges but are working on the constitutional method to do so.

A missile strike by a US drone in Damadola, Bajuar reportedly kills 12 militants.

May 15: Salman Taseer takes oath as Governor of Punjab amidst protests by PML-N over Taseer’s appointment.

May 17: Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association announce they will be holding a long march to Islamabad on June 10 if the deposed judges are not restored.

Kidnapped envoy to Afghanistan Tariq Azizuddin is released and returns home, says was kidnapped by local militants. The government denies the release was due to any deal.

May 18: A suicide blast in Mardan leaves eleven people dead including army personnel.

May 19: Four people are killed and two are injured in a blast in Bajaur.

May 21: Reports of a constitutional package emerge, which will move to clip powers of the President and Chief Justice, but will allegedly provide indemnity on certain issues to the President.

May 22: An accord is reached between militants and the ANP-led government in NWFP, which will allow the imposition of Shariah Law in Swat and Malakand.

May 24: In a rare interview with 30 journalists, Baitullah Mehsud says he is not responsible for Benazir Bhutto’s death

Asif Zardari unveils a 62-point constitutional plan that aims at reducing the President’s power

May 25: Iftikhar Chaudhry addresses a rally in Faisalabad, says PCO judges must be punished.

May 26: A report by news channel Al-Arabiya says Osama Bin Laden is hiding near the K2 mountain range in Pakistan

May 28: Nawaz Sharif says Musharraf should be charged under Article 6 of the Constitution for committing treason.

May 29: A.Q Khan gives series of interviews to television channels and papers, says he will reveal truth at opportune moment.

June 2: A bomb blast outside the Danish Embassy in Islamabad kills 8 and leaves 24 injured.

June 3: Cricketer Mohammad Asif is detained in Dubai airport authorities after he is caught with illegal substances, Pakistan Cricket Board says it has not received a formal report from the Dubai authorities.

June 5: Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for attack on Danish Embassy.

June 7: President Musharraf meets the press, says he will not resign. Also says the deposed judges were never under house arrest, says the country is heading towards destabilization. Musharraf blames the caretaker government for country’s economic woes.

Shahbaz Sharif takes oath as an MPA in the Punjab Assembly, to take oath on Sunday as CM.

June 8: Shahbaz Sharif takes oath as Chief Minister of Punjab, PML-Q walks out of PA session.

June 9: Lawyers from Karachi and Balochistan set off towards Multan to join the long march in Islamabad on June 12.

Barbed wire and containers make a reappearance in Islamabad on Shahrah-e-Dastoor, where the lawyers’ long march is to take place.

June 10: Lawyers and deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry arrive in Multan, after which they will go to Lahore. The deposed CJ will address a lawyers’ convention. PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif will arrive in Islamabad on June 11 or 12 to join the long march.

11 FC soldiers and 12 militants are left dead after a US airstrike on a Frontier Corps checkpost near the Pak-Afghan border. The ISPR condemns the attack.

June 12: The Pentagon says footage of the air strike in the Pak-Afghan border area may not show the complete picture.

June 13: Over 40,000 people converge in Islamabad for the long march.

June 14: PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif calls for Musharraf to be hanged for crimes of treason while addressing lawyers at the Parade Ground in Islamabad. SCBA President Aitzaz Ahsan ends long march, saying a sit-in outside the Parliament will not be held.

June 15: Aitzaz Ahsan denies allegations that a deal had taken place between the government and legal community, says lawyers will not restort to illegal means to restore deposed judges.

June 17: The defense budget allocation comes under discussion for the first time in the country’s history in the Senate.

June 20: PML-N and PPP leaders hold talks in Raiwind, PML-N agrees to the increase in the number of judges in the apex court and the Finance Bill

June 21: Late Benazir Bhutto’s 55th birth anniversary is marked around the country, a public holiday is declared in Sindh.

June 22: The Finance Bill is passed in the National Assembly including the PML-N members. The bill includes the provision to increase the SC strength to 29 judges.

June 23: A Lahore High Court bench ruling declares Nawaz Sharif to be ineligible to stand for by-polls. PML-N members term the verdict politicized and protest outside the Punjab Assembly.

June 24: Supreme Court stays election in NA-123 following government’s appeal against Nawaz Sharif’s disbarring from elections.

June 25: Two people, accused of being spies, are publicly executed in Mohmand agency

PM Gilani approves military operation in NWFP to be conducted by the Army. The COAS is to oversee operation and deploy army personnel, and decide on level of co-operation with ISAF in Afghanistan.

TTP takes over Jandola in NWFP, kill 22 tribal elders after kidnapping 30 pro-government tribal elders.

June 26: Militants in Swat torch the Malam Jabba ski resort including the chairlift, and kill seven people.

June 28: Frontier Corps launches an operation against militants in the Khyber Agency, reports circulate that militants Mangalbagh and his associates have fled to the Tirah Valley

Baitullah Mehsud warns of suicide attacks in Punjab and Sindh if the military operation is not stopped

June 29: TTP suspends all peace talks with the government as military operation continues.

June 30: US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher arrives in Pakistan and meets government officials and coalition partner.

30 soldiers are taken hostage in Khurram Agency

Gas prices are increased by 31%

July 1: Petroleum Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi admits the government made an error in calculating the price of CNG/kilo and says the increase is nearly Rs.6, not 13.

Military operation continues in Khyber Agency, the army arrests 24 suspected militants in the agency and 7 people in Peshawar.

July 2: A Washington Post article says US is authorized to strike in Pakistan without prior notice if they receive information about Osama Bin Laden’s whereabouts.

69 militants including a Lashkar-e-Islam leader are allegedly arrested in Bara, NWFP