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The British divide the lands they owned in India into majority Muslim and Hindu areas called East and West Pakistan. The state of Swat joins Pakistan with the belief that it will remain autonomous. Definition of autonomous:
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/autonomous -
A timeline of important background events regarding the history of Pakistan and the evolution of its government, designed to be used when teaching the memoir I Am Malala.
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The Hindu state of Kashmir tries to remain independent during the division of Pakistan (called partition). This leads to a revolt that quickly turned into a war between the Kashmir army and the Pakistani army.
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Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, dies from an illness, leaving the Pakistani government disorganized and the country vulnerable.
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Liek Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan was key in establishing the country of Pakistan. He tried to stabilize the country by creating new government positions, like governor general and finance minister. Khan tried to win political support, but only created more resentment among other political parties; he was assassinated in 1951.
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General Ayub Khan, commander of the Pakistani Army, takes control of the country. The population welcomes this change, and it sets a precedent in which the military takes over the government in times of uncertainty.
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India and Pakistan fight again over Kashmir. The U.S. and United Nations stop selling arms to the country, and instead negotiate a peace agreement.
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Ayub Khan loses public support because his political policies favor the upper class. He resigns and General Yahya Khan takes over; this new Khan declares martial law.
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The first election held in Pakistan included the Awami League vs. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The Awami League wins the election, but the country is still divided.
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Zulfikar Ali Bhutto becomes the first elected prime minister, as his party had won the majority of the votes in West Pakistan in the 1970 election.
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The Awami League, based in East Pakistan, won the election, but Bhutto resists this change. General Khan supports Bhutto. India supports the Awami League. Fighting spreads to West Pakistan and Kashmir, and eventually, the Pakistani government surrenders. East Pakistan becomes a new, independent country, Bangladesh.
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Bhutto is accused of attempting to murder another politician, is found guilty, and hanged.
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Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, is elected the new and FIRST FEMALE Prime Minister of Pakistan.
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Bhutto's government was dismissed after accusations of corruption and incompetence.
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More political rivalry brings the Pakistani government to a standstill. The army intervenes and calls for another election. Benazir Bhutto wins the election, and establishes another government.
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Bhutto's second government is dismissed after accusations of corruption and mismanagement.
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Malala is born in Swat.
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Malala is targeted by members of the Taliban. She is shot on her way home from school, along with two other girls aboard her school bus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18U4E7JbRwQ
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Malala addresses the United Nations in New York on her sixteenth birthday and calls for free education for all children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_9JwI8dOS8
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