Following is the chronology of events relating to former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's exile:
Oct 12, 1999: Nawaz Sharif ousted from power and placed under house arrest after he tried to sack the then army chief Pervez Musharraf.
Oct 15, 1999: Musharraf declares emergency, suspends the constitution and proclaims himself the country's chief executive.
Nov 10, 1999: Case of treason and conspiracy to murder registered against Sharif.
Nov 18, 1999: Sharif formally arrested and flown to Karachi.
Jan 19, 2000: Sharif and six co-accused, including his brother Shahbaz, are charged with abduction, attempted murder, hijacking and terrorism.
April 6, 2000: Sharif sentenced to two life-terms, confiscation of his property ordered.
May 12, 2000: Hearing begins in a corruption case against Sharif at an anti-graft court in the Attock Fort.
June 2, 2000: Judge indicts Sharif on charges of concealing assets and tax evasion for hiding the purchase of Mi8 helicopter in his income tax returns.
July 22, 2000: Sharif is sentenced to 14 years and banned from public office for 21 years on corruption charges. Judge also fines him $380,000.
Dec 10, 2000: Sharif is pardoned. He goes into exile in Saudi Arabia with his family.
Feb 12, 2001: Saudi Arabia asks Sharif to surrender passport.
July 7, 2005: Sharif rules out any deal with Musharraf.
June 29, 2005: Pakistan asks Sharif's brother Shahbaz to leave country.
Nov 7, 2006: Pakistan issues passport to Sharif enabling him to travel to London with his ill son.
July 20, 2007: Pakistan Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary and quashes the charges against him.
Aug 3, 2007: Sharif moves apex court for return to Pakistan.
Aug 23, 2007: Supreme Court rules Sharif can return from exile.
Aug 30, 2007: Sharif announces he will return to Pakistan on September 10.
Sep 7, 2007: Pakistani court orders arrest of Sharif's brother Shahbaz on murder charges. Government asks another court to grant arrest warrant for Nawaz on corruption charges.
Sep 10, 2007: Sharif's plane from London touches down at Islamabad airport. He is later deported to Jeddah.
© 2026