TIMELINE: Pakistan in crisis

(Reuters) - Police detained hundreds of Pakistani opposition figures and lawyers on Sunday as military ruler President Pervez Musharraf tried to stifle the outcry over the imposition of emergency powers.

Here is a chronology of major political events over recent months.

March 9, 2007 - Musharraf suspends Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on allegations of misconduct. Lawyers rally to the top judge and Musharraf's popularity plummets as their pro-democracy campaign grows.

July 10 - After a week-long siege, Musharraf orders troops to storm the Red Mosque in Islamabad to crush a Taliban-style movement based there. At least 105 people are killed. A wave of deadly 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 ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi to thrash out how to move the country towards a civilian-led democracy. Bhutto sets conditions including that Musharraf step down as army chief, talks are inconclusive.

Sept 10 - Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf deposed eight years ago and subsequently exiled, is arrested at Islamabad airport. The Supreme Court had cleared his return, and is hearing petitions that the government was in contempt of court for putting Sharif on a flight to Saudia Arabia.

Oct 2 - Musharraf designates a successor as army chief. Government announces it is dropping corruption charges against Bhutto, clearing way for her return.

Oct 6 - Musharraf wins most votes in a presidential election but he must wait for the Supreme Court to confirm the legality of his bid before being declared the winner.

Oct 19 - A suicide bomb assassination attempt against Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of self-imposed exile kills 139 people.

Nov 2 - Supreme Court reconvenes to hear challenges if Musharraf was eligible to stand for re-election by parliament while still army chief.

-- Sources say about 800 people have died, more than half of them in suicide bombings, since the storming of the Red Mosque.

Nov 3 - Musharraf imposes emergency rule.

Nov 4 - Minister of State for Information Tariq Azim Khan says elections in Pakistan, due in January, may be rescheduled following the imposition of emergency rule.