Each year passes with several ups and downs for all nations with the new one bringing hopes and promises. Pakistan also witnessed some major political developments throughout 2016 that will not only shape up the future but are also hinting at what to expect from 2017.
Here are the top headline-making events and controversies of the year in Pakistan:
Ex-Karachi mayor launches party to take on MQM
Former Karachi Mayor and ex-member of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Mustafa Kamal parted ways with MQM and launched his own political party Pak Sarzmeen Party (PSP). The founding members of the new party claimed they were all in powerful positions in MQM but left these positions for principles.
Former Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders Anees Advocate, Anees Qaim Khani, Iftikhar Alam, Raza Haroon are some of the prominent members of Kamals party.
Pervez Musharraf leaves Pakistan for treatment
Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf had left the country for Dubai in March earlier this year hours after the interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL). The government notification followed the Supreme Court's order to lift the ban on his foreign travel.
Musharraf is facing several cases in Pakistan including murder cases of former PM Benazir Bhutto, Balochistan leader Akbar Bugti and Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Rashid. Among other cases is the most important one regarding violation of the constitution by imposing the state emergency in the country.
Pervaiz Rasheed removed from post of Information Minister
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif removed Pervaiz Rasheed from the post of federal minister for information. The removal came in the wake of civil-military leadership leaked conversation that appeared in a local newspaper.
MQMs Waseem Akhtar elected Mayor Karachi
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader Waseem Akhtar elected Mayor and Arshad Vohra as Deputy Mayor Karachi after the party swept the local bodies election in the Sindh capital.
Karachi Mayor ran office from jail before being released
Mayor of Karachi Waseem Akhtar was released from jail after a court granted him bail in all cases. MQM Pakistan leaders and a huge crowd of party workers reached the central jail to welcome him. Supporters showered rose petals on Akhtar, who made victory signs after his release.
Murad Ali Shah takes responsibility as CM Sindh
Syed Murad Ali Shah was appointed as the new Chief Minister of Sindh after bagging majority votes, in a specially convened session of the Sindh Assembly. Shah has replaced Qaim Ali Shah, who was asked to step down after serving for 8 years as CM Sindh by the PPP leadership.
Shahbaz Taseer reunites with family
Shahbaz Taseer son of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, was recovered by security and intelligence agencies in Balochistan in March this year, declaring it was good to be back after nearly five years in the Talibans captivity.
Supreme Court hears Panama Leaks case
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family faced various charges, including money-laundering, setting up of offshore companies illegally and non-declaration of their assets among others in the Panama Papers case at the Supreme Court.
Children of Prime Minister Sharif Maryam, Hussain Nawaz and Hasan Nawaz claimed that all charges are baseless. They also submitted their asset details. A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali conducted the hearing. However, the chief justice later adjourned the hearing till January, 2017 citing his retirement by the end of December.
CPEC strengthens Pak-China economic ties
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its related projects symbolized the people-centric approach of the two countries that witnessed strengthening of the bilateral relations throughout the year.
Zardaris return to the country
PPP Co-Chairman and former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari returned to Pakistan on December 23 after spending nearly 18 months in a self-imposed exile in Dubai. After his return to the country, Zardari visited Jinnah Hospital and inquired about health of his close aide Dr Asim Hussain, who is facing corruption-related cases.
Gen Qamar Bajwa replaces Raheel Sharif as COAS
On November 29, General Qamar Javed Bajwa officially took charge as the 16th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) during the Change of Command ceremony at Army Hockey Stadium near General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. During the ceremony former Army Chief General Raheel Sharif handed over the 'command stick' to General Qamar Bajwa, ending speculations regarding extension in the former army chiefs tenure.
Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor takes charge of ISPR
Major General Asif Ghafoor was posted as Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan Army, replacing Lt-Gen Asim Salim Bajwa. The development came amid high-level transfers and postings by Pakistan Army in the wake of new Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwas appointment.
Zardari, Bilawal to contest for Parliament seats
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, after his return to Pakistan on December 27, finally made his much-anticipated big announcement at a rally in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to mark 9th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, revealed that he and his son Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will take part in elections to sit in the current Parliament.
PM Nawaz inaugurates 340 MW Chashma Nuclear Project-III
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated power generation from Chashma Nuclear Project - III near Mianwali. The 340 Mega Watt Nuclear Power Plant is a joint collaboration of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and China National Nuclear Corporation.
Imran Khan Lays Foundation of Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Karachi
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre after arriving in Karachi on a three-day end of the year visit.
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