12 Oct 1999

The Pakistan Army deposed on Oct.12. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had earlier dismissed the Chief of the Army staff, Gen. Pervez Musharraf and replaced him with ISI chief Lt. Gen. Ziauddin. (NEWS, 13/10).

15 Oct 1999

In a letter to the Pakistan Chief Executive Gen. Musharraf, U.S. President Clinton stressed him to restore democracy and a stable government in Pakistan as early as possible. (NEWS, 16/10).

16 Oct 1999

Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Committee and chief of the Army Staff, General Pervez Musharraf, has said that restoration of democracy is the ‘top priority’ of the military authorities. (DAWN, 17/10).

22 Oct 1999

To set-up the interim government General Musharraf has appointed governors in all the four provinces (NATION, 23/10).

27 Oct 1999

The Supreme Court held that Presidential Order 5 of 1977 (PO-5) relating to election to parliament and provincial assemblies should be treated at par with an act of parliament. (NEWS, 28/10).

29 Oct 1999

A four member Commonwealth Team visited Pakistan to assess the change after Oct.12, returned without any time frame for the restoration of democracy, but with assurances of electoral reforms in all aspects. (NEWS, 30/10).

1 Nov 1999

The Supreme Court again explained that it was functioning under the Constitution as already declared. (NEWS, 2/11).

4 Nov 1999

In an interview to CNN, Gen. Musharraf said that he had no plan for a political career and would hand over power after resolving the country's problems. (NEWS, 5/11).

6 Nov 1999

The US firmly asked Pakistan to provide a timetable for the restoration of democracy including a schedule for provincial and National elections. (NEWS, 7/11).

7 Nov 1999

Benazir Bhutto asked that new regime had to announce a fixed time frame for the restoration of democracy. (NEWS, 8/11).

8 Nov 1999

Pakistani's Chief Executive, Gen. Musharraf said in Ankara that he aimed to establish a 'stronger' democracy in his country. (NEWS, 9/11).

10 Nov 1999

The US State Dept. announced that President Bill Clinton would not visit Pakistan unless it shows some move towards restoring democracy. (NEWS. 11/11).

13 Nov 1999

The Federal Cabinet approved in principle the preparation of new voters lists and fresh delimitation of constituencies all over the country on the basis of new computerised cards which will be issued by the National Database Organization (NDO), (NEWS, 14/11).

14 Nov 1999

Baluchistan National Party (Mengal), Chief Ataullah Mengal asked for fresh elections and no to referendum. (NEWS, 15/11).

19 Nov 1999

The National Database Org. (NDO) has undertaken the task of computerisation of the National identity cards and compilation of electoral lists under the directives of the Chief Executive. (NEWS, 20/11).

Gen. Musharraf said in an interview that there was no question of the country's return to democracy at least in the near future. He also said that he couldn't give any time-frame for the return of democratic rule until the main objectives, for instance, reviving the economy are achieved. (NEWSLINE, NOV. 99).

2  Dec 1999

Gen. Musharraf said that he would be holding meetings with politicians for the restoration of democracy. (POT. Dec.17, 1999).

24 Dec 1999

Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf revealed that by the beginning of 2001, computerised electoral lists and delimitation of constituencies would be completed. (NEWS, 25/12). Gen. Musharraf told the editors and columnists in Lahore that a truly independent Election Commission will be established and that the elections to local governments would take place in 2000. Thereafter, an edifice of democracy, on a genuine basis at all three levels by developing power to the grassroots level, would be built.

14 Jan 2000

Chief Executive Gen. Musharraf announced on Jan. 14, his government's commitment to restore democratic institutions on the basis of the devolution of power and to hold level elections during the current year (NEWS, 15/1).

14 Jan 2000

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said that British Defence Chief Charles Gathrie is visiting Pakistan to tell Pakistani military authorities that the UK wants a time-table for the restoration of democracy, (DAWN from London, 15/1).

20 Jan 2000

The USA has urged Pakistan to take specific steps to restore democracy and to effectively deal with religious military. (NEWS, 21/1).

27 Jan 2000

Senior politicians and intellectuals expressed on the need for electoral reforms, including the establishment of an independent election commission, restoration of Federal Parliamentary system, and autonomy for the provinces to make Pakistan a true democratic and welfare state. (NEWS,28/1).

22 Feb 2000

The govt. formally came out with its position on holding the senate elections and ruled out the possibility of any arrangement to fill the vacancies of the 41 senators by next month. (NATION, 23/2).

22 Feb 2000

The military govt. has decided to exalt unprecedented electoral reforms, as part of its ambitious agenda to bring in what it says will be real democracy. (NEWS, 28/2).

7 Mar 2000

CE Gen. Musharraf would explain the policy of his government on devolution of power and an indication about the time frame for transfer of power and restoration of democracy. (DAWN, 8/3).

5 Apr 2000

The National Reconstruction Bureau chief Lt. Gen. (retd.) Tanveer Hussain Naqvi declared that elections to the National and provincial assemblies would be held on Party basis. (FRONTIER POST, 6/4). He declared that general elections would be held only after local body elections, but the govt. was not presently in a position to announce any date.

5 Apr 2000

The EC has recommended that a scheme for fresh preparation of electoral rolls should be devised so that flawless electoral rolls can be prepared. These fresh electoral rolls are expected to serve as a basic instrument for conducting free and fair elections in the country. (NEWS, 10/4). The commission favours the idea of holding polls for electing federal and provincial deputies on the same day. (POT).

9 Apr 2000

The Chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) Lt. Gen. (retd) Tanveer Hussain Naqvi has vowed to make the Election Commission 'autonomous'. (NATION, 10/4).

12 Apr 2000

CE Gen. Musharraf briefed UN Sec. Gen. Kofi Annan about has plans to restore democracy in Pakistan. (NATION, 14/4). Musharraf said hat he wanted to return to democracy "not to please the international community" but because "it is in our own interests" -REUTERS.

15 Apr 2000

Kofi Annan urges Musharraf to restore democracy in Pakistan. (NATION, 15/4). The adviser on National Affairs to the CE, Javed Jabbar has said in an interview with BBC that in the next phase, the timing of which remains unspecified, political parties will have a major role to play in the elections to the National Assembly, senate and provincial assemblies.

16 Apr 2000

The Grand Democratic Alliance has demanded of the govt. to announce fresh elections for National and Provincial Assemblies besides local bodies polls for complete transfer of power. (NATION, 16/4). The GDA condemned govt. system committee formed in March to consider chief executives devolution of power formula and finalized its 24 point recommended on Apr. 15. It demands Local Bodies polls on party basis and said the govt. should ensure that there should be no administrative rigging or interference in the elections.

21 Apr 2000

New electoral rolls will start coming from Oct. this year and the process will be completed by May, 2001, official sources in Pak said. (NATION, 22/4). The new electoral rolls would be finalised and approved by the EC. The new voter list will be completed by NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) in 3 phases. In the first phase, 20 computerised lists would be prepared, five from each province. These lists will be verified by the EC on ground. With the govt. decision to bring down the age of voters from 21 to 18 years, an estimated 10 million voters will be added to the new electoral lists.

15 May 2000

The EC of Pak. Has proposed that political parties should be bound to ensure elections within their ranks to qualify for contesting any general elections. (NEWS, 15/5).

25 May 2000

Gen. Musharraf reiterated his commitment to the restoration of civilian rule and hinted at evolving a system of balance that will prevent the Army's intervention in politics in future. (NEWS. 26/5). Gen. Musharraf said that the govt. has accepted the Supreme Court's verdict, which gave the military authorities within a three-year period for the restoration of democracy.

29 May 2000

The Supreme Court while declaring that there was no democracy before Oct.12, released a detailed 579 page judgement giving reasons and logic behind the doctrine of state necessity to validate extra constitutional steps by the military to overthrow the elected government of Nawaz Sharif. (NATION, 30/5).

6 Jun  2000

The government has set in motion the process of reviving democracy in the country with the grant of autonomous status to the EC preparation of new electoral rolls and delimitation of constituencies. (FRONTIER POST, 5/6).

9 Jun 2000

The EC sought the record from all the four provincial election authorities for arrangements to hold local body's post in Dec. 2000. (NATION, 10/6). The EC announced 15 point proposal to conduct the Local Body elections.

13 Jun 2000

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has asked the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to prepare computerised fresh electoral rolls by September for the next local council elections. (DAWN 14/6).

23 Jun 2000

Heads of major political parties have called for restoration of democracy and holding of free and fair general elections at the earliest while stressing the need for internal unity and preservation of sovereignty of Pak. (NATION 24/6).

24 Jun 2000

The Election Commission has recommended that the present 'first past the post' system should be combined with the run-off elections system. It required the winning candidate to secure 51% of the total registered votes. (DAWN 25/6).

6 Jul 2000

The government has announced various phases and names of districts for local bodies elections throughout the country. (NATION 6/7).

12 Jul 2000

The government has decided to delimit electoral constituencies as part of its ongoing electoral reforms. NADRA would assist EC in the important task of delimitation of all electoral constituencies and the computerised electoral polls. (NEWS, 13/7).

4 Aug 2000

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has opposed a proposal ordinance aimed at changing election laws and procedures. (NEWS 5/8).

6 Aug 2000

More than 12 political and religious parties at an All-parties conference in Lahore on Aug. 6 adopted a declaration calling upon the govt. to give immediately a time-frame for the free and fair elections in which participation of all political parties was ensured. (DAWN 7/8). The Federal govt. has formally declared the Election Commission an independent and autonomous body for exercising financial and administrative powers. The govt. gave a formal directive to EC. (NEWS 6/8).

2 Sept 2000

The EC will be an independent forum to implement the political parties act and debar convicted political leaders from taking part in the electoral process - the official source. (NEWS 3/9).

3 Sept 2000

The Election Commission is examining different reports that it has prepared to introduce mandatory voting.

15 Sept 2000

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had completed fresh computerised electoral rolls for the first phase of ‘local bodies’ polls to be held in December. (NEWS 16/9).

15 Oct 2000

The last date for receiving nominations papers for the local govt. polls in 8 districts of the country would be December 5, said the EC spokesman Kanwar Mahowarool Dilshad. (NEWS 16/10).

17 Oct 2000

Gen. Musharraf said that he would not allow any corrupt politician to context elections.

11 Nov 2000

The EC has rejected the computerised voters lists prepared by National Database and Registraion Authority (NADRA) in view of a large number of complaints of errors and omissions received from across the country, a spokesman for the commission (DAWN 12/11).

15 Nov 2000

The Supreme Council of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement has called for a caretaker govt. comprising those judges of the SC who had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO), reports. (NATION 5/11). Such a caretaker set-up should conduct fresh general elections within 3 months.

17 Nov 2000

The Jamait-ul-Ulema Islam of Fazhir Rahman has accused NADRA of tampering with electoral roll to create small fiefdoms of Indians and Christians in Pakistan. (NEWS 18/11,2000)

1 Dec 2000

Gen. Musharraf’s Press Secretary, Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi, has said that general elections will be held in 2002 as planned and that the first step towards establishing real democracy is being taken by holding local bodies polls on Dec. 31. It was also declared that the sharif family has been barred from taking part in political activities contesting in 2002 elections.

3 Dec 2000

The EC fixed Rs. 2,00,000 as max amount, which can be spent by dist. Nazim and dist. Naibs Nazim as joint candidates on their election campaign for the local govt. polls to be held in Dec. 31. (NEWS 4/12).

7 Dec 2000

Over 22,250 candidates have filed nomination papers against 20,097 seats of the 957 union councils in 18 districts, where local body elections will be held on Dec. 31. (NEWS 8/12).

15 Dec 2000

The Hindu minority has announced the boycott of elections at all levels in the country till the restoration of joint electorate system. (NEWS 16/12).

28 Dec 2000

In the first phase of the local govt. elections scheduled for Dec. 31, 2000 in Larhana division, 19 union councils have returned unopposed out of local of 204 union councils in the 3 districts of the division. (DAWN 28/12).

1 Jan 2001

Approximately 40% turned out in largely peaceful 1^st phase of local govt. elections on Dec. 31, in 18 districts of the four provinces, official monitors of the electoral process said. (NEWS 7/1).

2 Jan 2001

The EC has postponed the second phase of local bodies polls, presumably on account of the low turnout witnessed during the 1^st phase. (FRONTIER POST 2/1). The EC receives results of 2/3 union council elections, held in 18 districts of the four provinces. (DAWN, 2/1).

7 Jan 2001

Gen. Musharraf expressed that he was happy over 45.7% turn out in the first phase elections which he said was good, inspite of bad weather holidays.

8 Jan 2001

At least 4 million voters have been registered afresh, who would use their right to franchise for the 1^st time in the 2^nd phase of local bodies election to be held on March 21, 2001.

11 Jan 2001

The elections to local bodies were held in a totally transparent, fair and impartial manner and there has not been received any adverse comment about the elections from any one of the foreign observers was declared by Justice Qadeer.

25 Jan 2001

In a major concession to the longstanding demand of the minorities, the next general elections, roughly scheduled for Oct. 2002, will be held on the basis of point electorate (FRIDAY TIMES, 26/1).

6 Feb 2001

The SC has asked the Federal Govt. to inform when it intends to hold general elections and restore democracy in the country. (NEWS 7/2). "We are not in favour of the military rule for an indefinite period rather in favour of parliamentary democracy and people's rule" the Chief Justice observed and added that the constitution is still the Supreme Law of the land.

13 Feb 2001

Jamaat Islami Amir Hussain Ahmad has warned the govt. that if it did not quit within the next five or six month months, the Jamaat force it to step down. (NATION, 14/2). He demanded formation of an interim govt. for holding general elections ahead of schedule.

21 Feb 2001

Preparations were underway to install a national government for the interim period, to organise the general elections by the end of three-year period stipulated by the Supreme Court. (PAKISTAN OBSERVER 22/2).

22 Feb 2001

The All Parties Conference (APC) organised by the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) through a unanimously adopted resolution urged the govt. to announce election schedule within a mouth to hold fresh general elections under the supervision of an independent election commission. (NEWS 23/2). Immediate announcement of the election schedule should be the top priority of the govt. said the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Feb. 22. And it warned that the delay in restoration of democracy till Oct. 2002 is unnecessary and willingly aggravates the current national crisis. (NEWS 23/2).

15 Mar 2001

CE Gen. Musharraf ruled out on March 15 the possibility of any interim setup in the country. (NEWS 16/3).

3 Apr 2001

Local bodies elections are being held in phases and the process has already completed in districts ex-schedule I, said a press release issued in Islamabad. (DAWN, 8/4). Elections in schedule III which includes Faisalabad division will be held on May 28, 2001.

11 Apr 2001

The Commonwealth has given a deadline of Oct. 2001, to the Musharraf govt. to hold general elections, while the European Union has asked to hold them at the earliest. It is learnt that the govt. will announce the election schedule of provincial assemblies in August. The provincial elections may start in Oct. 2001 and end in March 2002. Following the provincial elections, the set up for the senate elections will be announced in April-May 2002. National Assembly elections would be held in Sept.-Oct. 2002. Before the announcement of National Assembly elections, CE Gen. Musharraf, would be elected President by the members of assemblies and the senate. Before the holding of the election of provincial assemblies, the govt. will announce the interim set-up.

20 Apr 2001

Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan has reiterated that elections to the senate the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies have to be held before Oct. 12, 2002 and democratic institutions revived. (NEWS, 21/4).

29 Apr 2001

Leaders from all walks of life at a National Convention demanded the CE to announce a schedule for the general elections under Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution to be conducted by an independent Election Commission to transfer power to genuine public representatives.

4 May 2001

The EC has proposed to the govt. not to allow those political parties to contest lower level and national level elections, which do not hold election within the party and sought special powers to bend these parties to hold party elections. (NEWS 5/5). The EC has also suggested rules and regulations under which party workers should be allotted tickets for elections to Parliament seats.

9 May 2001

The CEC Abdul Qadeer Chaudary declared that production of the National Identity Card was a mandatory requirement for casting vote in the 3^rd phase of local govt. polls to be held on may 31. (DAWN 10/5).

31 May 2001

The turnout of voters was more than 75% in the third phase of local bodies polls held in 1473 Union Councils in 18 districts on May 31. (NATION 1/6).

2 Jun 2001

The Pakistan's Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan said that the military govt. of Gen. Musharraf would lose legitimacy if it tries to stay a day longer that mandated by the SC. (NEWS 3/6).

20 Jun 2001

POPULAR COMMENTARIES

• Myanmar: Priority for the New Indian Government
  Rahul Mishra   ·   04 Jul, 2014   ·    4545
• A Ray of Hope for India-Bangladesh Relations?
  Sonia Hukil   ·   01 Jul, 2014   ·    4539
• China’s Cartographic Aggression
  Roomana Hukil   ·   04 Jul, 2014   ·    4538
• India, China and the MoU on Brahmaputra
  Wasbir Hussain   ·   03 Jul, 2014   ·    4544