Political and social justice stories that dominated headlines in 2024

The year 2024 saw pivotal political upheavals that will influence the future of democracy in the country, alongside major social justice incidents and deadly terr0rist attacks, all underscored the need for or a robust and efficient system.

Political upheavals

January 9: Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi indicted in the Toshakhana reference.

January 16: Indictments issued against Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the Iddat case.

January 30: Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi sentenced to 10 years in jail in the cipher case.

January 31: Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi received 14-year sentences in the Toshakhana reference.

February 8: General elections held amidst widespread allegations of discrepancies.

March 4: Shehbaz Sharif took oath as Pakistan’s Prime Minister for the second term.

October 21: 26th Constitutional Amendment empowers parliament to appoint the chief justice.

November 24–26: PTI’s protest at D-Chowk ended after a security crackdown.

December 10: Former DG ISI Lt Gen (Retd) Faiz Hameed indicted for engaging in political activities.

December 26: Military court indicted 60  PTI workers, including Imran Khan’s nephew, and two military officers.

Important judicial rulings

April 1: IHC suspended Imran and Bushra Bibi’s Toshakhana sentences.

June 3: Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi acquitted in the cipher case.

July 12: Supreme Court allocated reserved seats to PTI.

July 13: Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi acquitted in the Iddat case but arrested in a new Toshakhana case.

October 3: Supreme Court reversed the Article 63-A verdict, enabling lawmakers to vote against party lines.

Social justice stories

August 19: Karsaz accident claimed two lives, including Amna Arif and her father.

August 19 – September 6: Accused Natasha Danish secured bail after the victims’ families reached a settlement.

February 25: Lahore police rescued a woman wearing a dress adorned with Arabic calligraphy from a violent mob attack.

October 14: Protests erupted over misinformation about an alleged rape case at a Lahore college.

Deadliest terrorist attacks:

February 5: 10 police officers killed, 6 injured in an attack on Chodwan Police Station, Dera Ismail Khan.

February 7: 30 killed in twin bombings at election offices in Pishin and Qila Saifullah.

March 26: Suicide bombing claims lives of 5 Chinese nationals and a Pakistani driver in Bisham, KP, while traveling to Dasu Dam.

October 7: Two Chinese nationals killed, 10 others injured in a suicide attack near Karachi's Jinnah International Airport.

October 11: Terrorist attack killed 21 coal miners, including 3 Afghans, in Dukki district, Balochistan.

November 9: Suicide bombing at Quetta railway station killed 32 and injures 55.

November 21: 54 killed in an assault on a passenger convoy in Kurram, KP.