Pakistan in 2012: A year in review
The year 2012 was no less tumultuous for Pakistan than any other year. Starting from the Supreme Court and former premier Gilani at loggerheads to the return of Tahirul Qadri’s (untimely) arrival on the political scene, Pakistan has seen a healthy share of ups and downs this year. NATO supply routes were resumed, terrorism continued, Metro Bus project was initiated – it is difficult to remember when one event ended and the other began. For the purpose of simplification and to refresh the previous year, Spearhead Research put together a year in review, a compilation of all important news Pakistan saw.
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JANUARY
POLITICS
- If all else fails, president may pardon Haqqani
- Asma jhangir refuses to be haqqani counsel
- Pak-US relations: Ties may thaw soon, as back channels intensify
- No regrets for setting up military court: Nawaz
- BlackBerry data key to probe
- Haqqani shies away from providing data
- Memogate row: Mansoor Ijaz due on Monday
- Ijaz can be charged with high treason: Experts
- Memogate: DG ISI submits reply to parliamentary committee
- Ijaz gets last chance: ‘appear on Feb 9′
- Gilani-Kayani meeting shows ties on the mend
- ISI’s political role must not be overlooked: Nisar
- PML-N unites opposition to pressurize early election
ECONOMY
- Pak, India exchange lists of nuclear installations
- Pak exports rise in past 5 months
- Petrol rises to Rs. 90
- Gas-sparked protests rage on
- FBR revenue collection touches all-time high mark
- Restrictions on aid — new year US gift to Pakistan
- PIA Management bent on running the dilapidated Enterprise to the ground
- Only 72 paisa per kg reduction in CNG prices
- Top 10 trading partners of Pak
- Pak eco recovering: WB
- Textile exports may fall
- Gas closure hits 34th day in Faisalabad
- Islamic banks profitability up 58% in Q1FY12
- USAID promises continued support to KP, Fata uplift
- Rupee weakens; o/n rates end flat
SECURITY
- Significant decline in suicide attacks in 2011
- 3 Killed as Drone Strikes Resume in Pakistan
- ISI gets a clean chit in Saleem probe
- Pentagon rejects Pakistan army report on NATO blunder
- UN’s nuclear disarmament conference may sink over Pakistan’s reluctance: Ban-ki Moon
FEBRUARY
POLITICS
ECONOMY
- Govt takes oil prices to a new high
- WTO grants two-year trade waiver to Pakistan
- The Pakistan-Iran pipedream
- Punjab CNG buses offer spurned
- Meezan Bank announces 106% growth for year 2011
- Govt and PML-N concur to subsidise oil prices and raise CNG prices
SECURITY
- Pakistan denies ‘intimate’ Taliban links
- U.S. drones targeting rescuers and mourners
- Pakistan gets last fleet of F-16 jets
- US, CIA and Balochistan
- Malik says 27 terrorist groups involved in Benazir’s murder
- 14 blasts hit railway tracks across Sindh
- Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Drones
- ‘India blocked Kashmir troops’ trial over abuses’
MARCH
POLITICS
- Should the US support an independent Balochistan?
- US denies threats over gas pipeline
- SC orders PM Gilani to write letter to Swiss authorities without legal advice
- Money arranged at behest of Ghulam Ishaq, Aslam Beg: Habib
- JI rejects allegations of taking money from ISI
- Pakistan parliament panel demands US air strike apology
- Pakistan Day: JSQM leader demands freedom for Sindh and Balochistan
- Pakistani, US military top brass hold first post-Salala meeting
- SC pulls the plug on Raja’s RPPs
ECONOMY
- Pakistan to Ease India Trade Limits
- Political battles bad for Pakistan’s credit image: S&P
- Pak power rates highest in region
- Pakistan objects to Indian power plants
SECURITY
APRIL
POLITICS
- PPP’s Israr eyes Imran
- Pakistan moves Interpol for Red Corner Notice against Musharraf
- The journey from Hilal Road to Raiwind
- There should be no political wing in ISI: PM
- SC asks Musharraf to surrender in BB case
- Poor attendance at PCNS meetings dragging NATO routes issue
- PTI’s Rural Governance Support Plan
- Strengthening ranks: Former PPP senator latest in PML-N inductees
- Haqqani agrees to waive privacy rights of BlackBerry sets
- Pakistan Gives U.S. a List of Demands, Including an End to C.I.A. Drone Strikes
- Memogate scandal: RIM confirms unavailability of old records
- PML-N may consider fresh Saraiki province demand
- Kayani supports my stance over Siachen: Nawaz
- SC refers Haqqani’s video statement application to Memogate commission
- PM announces holding of local bodies elections in Islamabad
- The Axe falls Tomorrow: PM’s Contempt Verdict
- Pak top court convicts PM Gilani of contempt, lawyer says will appeal
- US shortsighted policy only hurts its ‘ally’ Pakistan
- Nawaz blows the war trumpet
ECONOMY
- ADB report: Low investment, power cuts adding to rich-poor gap
- UK to invest $610m on Thar coalmine uplift
- Zardari asks govt to set up a Seraiki Bank
- TAPI pipeline: Pakistan, Afghanistan and India agree on transit fee
- WB allocates $1.8b for uplift projects
- Russia’s indecision causes Pak to look for other sponsors for IP pipeline
- Pakistan’s low economic growth leaves 1.3 million people jobless
- Govt to miss growth target
SECURITY
- Under US pressure, Pakistan prepares plan to counter IEDs
- Serious about Hafiz Saeed but need more evidence, says Pakistan PM Gilani
- Plan to Stop Smuggling of homemade land mines
- Mourning continues in Quetta over Hazara killings
- $110m Pak-US pact on security
- Bannu jailbreak: Strict security arrangements ordered for Adiala Jail
- Kayani urges less spending on defence
- Pakistan favours demilitarization of Siachen: Kayani
- Several militant groups operating in Pakistan, claims McCain
- Nuclear war prevention: ‘Global famine if India, Pakistan unleash nukes’
- Illegal Afghan immigrants told to leave Peshawar
- Kidnapped UK doctor found beheaded in Quetta
MAY
POLITICS
- Punjab govt’s ‘long march’ will amount to treason, warns Gilani
- No clash with judiciary, Gilani assures Kayani
- SC wants missing persons found in two weeks
- US just won’t rein in its drones
- Beware of non-state actors, Gilani warns India
- Convicted yet defiant Gilani risks 5 year ban
- Pakistan not welcome at Chicago moot
- Pakistan gets its invite to Chicago moot
- No appeal against SC verdict PPP decision dictated by political factors?
- Govt decides it is time restore writ in Balochistan
ECONOMY
SECURITY
- Teenaged bomber kills decorated hero, 23 others in Bajaur
- US secretly releases high-level Taliban in exchange for pledges of peace: WP
- US bill prohibits aid to tame Pakistan on terror war
- Two clerics shot dead in Karachi, Lakki Marwat
- Pakistan strikes $1m a day deal with NATO
- Pakistan’s CSF linked with restoration of NATO supplies
- FIRST BLOOD SPILLS OVER MUHAJIR SOOBA
JUNE
POLITICS
- Election budget aims to woo voters
- CJP lays down the law for son
- Never met Malik Riaz… I swear!
- Kayani turns his back on US envoy
- RIAZ DROPS THE BOMB!
- Pakistan gets its new PM
- SC notices ‘Ridicule of Judiciary’
- NEW PM, OLD PROMISES
ECONOMY
SECURITY
JULY
POLITICS
- Gen Allen meets Kayani to rebuild Pak-US bridge
- 11 patients die as govt, doctors lock horns
- SORRY: Magic word reopens NATO supplies
- Dual nationality bill stirs up a storm in Senate
- Balochistan shuts down on ANP strike call
ECONOMY
SECURITY
- No routes for NATO beyond 2014
- Pakistan gives Afghanistan the ‘hit list’
- Militants mark beginning of Ramadan with 20 killings
AUGUST
POLITICS
ECONOMY
SECURITY
- Pakistan, US sign troop supply deal, $1.1b CSF released
- Twin blasts in fruit market injure 23
- 25 Shias pulled off buses, executed in Kohistan
- Drone preys on 18 more as Pakistan’s protests fall on deaf ears
SEPTEMBER
POLITICS
ECONOMY
- Fuel prices dropped by 5.5% (part of a broader Deregulation policy)
- Pakistan hosts Developing-8 summit in Islamabad
- 700,000 left homeless after heavy floods in Balochistan
- SC issues notice to PIA Chairman
- PIA Chairman resigns
SECURITY
- 10,000 people protest against ‘Blasphemous’ film that resukted in a ban on YouTube
- JIU, KPK, offers Rs 10 million bounty for Blasphemous film-maker
- Over 300 die in Lahore and Karachi garment factory fires
- 22 killed in attacks on Shia processions
- Mardan Church attack
- Sindh wide SPLGO protests
- SC seeks report on spy agencies
- PAF bus attack: 8 killed, 25 injured
- Peshawar car bombing kills 14
OCTOBER
POLITICS
- No political meddling by ISI, says Senate
- SC halls up poll meddlers
- No record of Political Cell in Presidency: SC
- SC settles impasse with government
- Khan off to waziristan for peace rally
ECONOMY
SECURITY
- Hizbut Tahrir complicates Military’s terrorism calculus
- Militants behead SP kill six cops
- 4 Hazaras shot dead in Quetta
- Pakistan wants anti-Taliban drive on both sides
- Pro government Militia targeted 16 killed pakistan today
- Malala attack Mastermind arrested
- Malala attacked
- Russia endorses Pakistan’s anti-drone stance
NOVEMBER
POLITICS
- PTI hold first ever intra-party election
- MQM walks out of NA amidst Khi bloodbath
- Kayani warns Media, Judiciary and Government against underminign Military
ECONOMY
- Wapda welcomes investment in Diamer-Bhasha dam project
- FPCCI delegation calls on Governor Sindh
- TESCO recovers Rs 10.12 million from defaulting steel mills
SECURITY
- Karzai: War on Terror must be taken to Pakistan sanctuaries
- Senate asks for deweaponising Karachi
- Cellular Services suspended for Security reasons in main cities
- Pakistan releases Taliban
- Khuzdar Tragedy
DECEMBER
POLITICS
- Dr. Tahir ul Qadri holds historic address at Minar-e-Pakistan
- Mehmood replaces Khosa as Punjab Governor
- PPP appointed NAB chief exposes corruption worth Rs. 7 billion
- CJ: Baloch government has no Constitutional Authority
- PML-N trounces PPP,PML-Q Alliance in by-polls
ECONOMY
SECURITY
- Jaish-ul-Islam claims responsibility: 20 Shia pilgrims killed in Mastung attack
- Pakistani Taliban execute captured policemen
- Karachi Cantt Station ‘terror’ blast kills 6, injures 50
- 20 kidnapped and 2 killed as 400 militants storm checkposts in Peshawar
- Somali pirates release 22 Pakistani & Indian Sailors after 32 months
- Bashir Bilour killed in Peshawar suicide blast
- Polio workers attacked: total of 9 dead, WHO wraps up program
- Pakistan agrees to free more Taliban prisoners amidst Peace Talks