BACKGROUND: History of Pakistan's political crisis

Jan 19, 2012, 5:52 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan's civilian government is facing the worst crisis since it came to power in 2008 because of tensions with the powerful military and the increasingly assertive judiciary. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appeared in court Thursday over contempt of court charges. Here is brief history of the triangular conflict. Government vs the military:

- The government issued a notification in July 2008 to place the military-run Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency under civilian control, but the notification was withdrawn within 24 hours because of the army's sharp reaction.

- The government announced it would send the head of the ISI to India after the Mumbai terrorist attacks of November 2008 but changed the decision after the military opposed the move.

- The army reacted angrily to US aid legislation in October 2009 that linked US financial assistance to civilian control over the military.

- The government allegedly authorized an unsigned memo to the United States soon after the killing of former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May in a US raid, seeking Washington's support to avoid a possible military takeover.

A US-Pakistani citizen, Mansoor Ijaz, wrote in the British daily The Financial Times on October 10 that he delivered the memo to Admiral Mike Mullen, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

- Pakistan's ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, was sacked November 22 after meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, and the ISI's chief, Lieutenant General Ahmad Shuja Pasha.

- Gilani accused the army of behaving like a 'state within state' on December 22.

- Gilani in a speech in parliament indirectly asked the military how bin Laden managed to live in Pakistan for years.

Government vs the judiciary:

- The judiciary quashed the 2007 National Reconciliation Ordinance in December 2009, which extended an amnesty to President Asif Ali Zardari in corruption cases in Pakistan and abroad and asked the government to write a letter to Swiss authorities to start proceedings against him in graft cases there.

- After several warnings, the Supreme Court set January 10 as the deadline for writing the letter to the Swiss government, but the government failed to comply.

- On January 16, the court issued contempt notices to the prime minster and ordered him to appear on January 19 in person.

- On January 17, the court suspended licence of a leading legal adviser to Zardari after he ridiculed the court.

Government vs military and judiciary

- The memo scandal landed in court after opposition leader and former two-time premier, Nawaz Sharif, filed a petition in November and asked the court to investigate.

- The government opposed the filing of the petition, but the court rejected its objection and ordered the army and the president to file responses by December 15.

- Army chief and the ISI head filed their affidavits, but the president did not.

- The court appointed a commission on December 30 to investigate the memo scandal.

- Gilnai accused the army chief and the ISI chief of violating the constitution in an interview with China's People's Daily on January 9.

- The army hit back January 11, warning the government of grievous consequences.

Responding to the tough statement by the army, Gilani sacked the defence secretary, who was considered close to the army chief.