TIMELINE: Pakistan's election postponed

(Reuters) - Pakistan's Election Commission has postponed a general election until February 18, saying polling was not possible on January 8 because of disturbances following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Here is a chronology of recent major political events.

March 9, 2007 - President Pervez Musharraf suspends Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry over allegations of misconduct. Lawyers rally around the top judge and Musharraf's popularity plummets.

July 10 - Musharraf orders troops to storm the Red Mosque in Islamabad to crush a Taliban-style movement there. At least 105 people are killed. Militant attacks and suicide bombings follow.

July 20 - Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Chaudhry, dealing a blow to Musharraf's authority.

July 27 - Musharraf meets former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi for inconclusive talks on how to move the country towards a civilian-led democracy. Bhutto demands that Musharraf step down as army chief.

September 10 - Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is arrested at Islamabad airport on his arrival from exile, despite the Supreme Court clearing his return. He is deported to Saudi Arabia.

October 2 - Musharraf's government announces it will drop graft charges against Bhutto, clearing way for her return from exile.

October 6 - Musharraf wins a presidential vote by legislators. Supreme Court holds off confirming legality of vote.

October 19 - Suicide bomber tries to assassinate Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of exile. At least 139 people are killed in one of the country's deadliest attacks.

November 2 - Supreme Court reconvenes to decide if Musharraf is eligible to stand for re-election while army chief.

November 3 - Musharraf imposes emergency rule, detaining thousands of opposition politicians and lawyers.

November 11 - Musharraf says election will be held by January 8.

November 13 - Bhutto is placed under house arrest for a week in Lahore, hours before planned march against emergency rule. Bhutto says Musharraf must quit as president.

November 14 - Sharif says he is ready to work with Bhutto.

November 15 - Musharraf appoints Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro to head a caretaker government to oversee elections.

November 25 - Sharif returns from exile.

November 28 - A tearful Musharraf hands over command of the army to General Ashfaq Kayani.

November 29 - Musharraf is sworn in as a civilian leader.

December 9 - Sharif says he will take part in January 8 election.

December 15 - Musharraf lifts state of emergency and restores the constitution.

December 27 - Bhutto is assassinated in a gun and bomb attack after a rally in Rawalpindi. Violence flares in Pakistan as angry supporters of Bhutto take to the streets.

December 30 - Bhutto's 19-year-old son is appointed chairman of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) along with his father, Asif Ali Zardari, who is to be co-chairman.

Jan 2 - The election commission says polling not possible on January 8, and delays the election to February 18.

(Writing by David Cutler and Gill Murdoch, London Editorial Reference Unit)