Pakistan's Violent Political History Continues With Bhutto's Assassination

Pakistan's Violent Political History Continues With Bhutto's Assassination

 

With the political assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007, Pakistan's bloody tradition of political violence continues to plague an already fractured and unstable country.

A short list of significant acts of political violence in Pakistan. Note that Pakistan has been an independent nation only since 1947.

--1947-Independence from the British and the violent separation from India (several million killed in Pakistan and India)

--First Kashmir War (1947-1948) with India

--1948--Pakistani annexation of Baluchistan, military suppression of Baluch nationalists.

--1951--Assassination of Pakistan's first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan

--Pakistan's first President, Iskandar Mirza, throws out the constitution and declares martial law on October 7, 1958

--General Ayub Khan overthrows Iskander Mirza in a bloodless coup d'etat on October 7, 1958.

--1958-1960--Pakistani military suppression of Baluch nationalists

--Second Kashmir War (1965) with India

--Bangladesh War of Independence (1971) from Pakistan (Bangladesh had, from 1947 to 1971, been part of Pakistan, best known as East Pakistan). India intervened in the war to aid Bangladesh against Pakistan

--1973-1976-Rebellion in Baluchistan, a province in southwestern Pakistan

--1977--Military coup overthrows Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He was replaced by General Zia al-Huq.

--1979--Former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was executed after a controversial trial.

--Kargil War (Kashmir Border Conflict) border war with India

--October, 1999--General Pervez Musharraf overthrows Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless military coup

--Waziristan War (2004-Present)-against tribal rebels and al-Qaida fighters in the Northwest border region

--2003--Two unsuccessful assassination attempts against President Pervez Musharraf

--July, 2003--Siege and Battle at the Red Mosque--over 100 killed.

--October 18, 2007--Assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto upon her return from exile

--December 27, 2007--Assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi