Highlights from 2019 — The biggest news stories of the year

Like all years, 2019 saw a mix of highs and lows. From the historic visits of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to Prime Minister Imran Khan's fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly and cross-border tensions — there was plenty that went down this year. 

As we step into a new year, here's a look back at what happened in 2019.

Loralai attack

The year started on a gloomy note when nine people, including three policemen, were martyred on January 29 as attackers attempted to enter the DIG police compound in Loralai, Balochistan.

The attack took place while 800 candidates were present in the compound for enrollment in the Balochistan police force. 

Others martyred in the attack included five civil employees of the police and one civilian candidate. Twenty-one others were wounded in the attack. The injured included 12 policemen and nine civilian candidates.

Saudi crown prince visits Pakistan

The two-day official trip by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on February 17 brought the federal capital to a standstill. Speculation was rife that the Saudi royalty's personal belongings — including luxury vehicles and his own gym — were flown to Pakistan on two C-130 aircrafts to help him feel at home.

The historic visit garnered even more attention after Prime Minister Imran Khan drove the Crown Prince from the airport.

“It feels like home in Pakistan. We believe in Pakistan's future, we believe that Pakistan has huge opportunities. In 2030, Pakistan will be next to two huge economies, China and India," MbS had said during his visit to Pakistan.

Balakot strike

On February 26, tensions between India and Pakistan reached a recent high earlier this year after Indian incursions into Pakistani airspace and the subsequent downing of two Indian aircrafts by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

Indian warplanes intruded into Pakistani airspace late at night, however, they turned back soon after PAF scrambled its fighter jets.

In response, PAF made an incursion into occupied Kashmir, had two Indian jets chase them before shooting them down. One of the Indian jets was downed inside Pakistani airspace. The jet's pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was arrested but later released as a "gesture of peace" towards New Delhi in an effort to de-escalate tensions between the two countries.

Christchurch mosque shootings

Attacks on two Christchurch mosques on March 15 left at least 50 dead in what was one of the worst attacks against Muslims in a western country.

The attacks began at the Al Noor Mosque during the Friday prayers and continued at the Linwood Islamic Centre. The gunman had live-streamed the first attack on Facebook.

The Bangladesh cricket team — which had been in Christchurch for a Test match against New Zealand  — escaped without injury. The players were arriving for prayers when the shooting occurred.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, a self-avowed white supremacist, was charged with 51 murders, 40 attempted murders, and engaging in a terrorist act; he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The attack had an important connection to Pakistan. Naeem Rashid, one of the people who died trying to restrain Tarrant, was a Pakistani from Abbottabad. Eight other Pakistanis, including Rashid's son, lost their lives in the attack. 

Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad visits Pakistan

Another visit that made headlines this year was the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

PM Mohamad's visit from March 21-23 was at the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, with whom he enjoys great bonhomie. 

The Malaysian premier was the Guest of Honour at the Pakistan Day Parade on March 23.

Asad Umar resigns from cabinet

In a shocking turn of events, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MNA Asad Umar stepped down as the finance minister of Pakistan on April 18.

The cabinet shakeup also saw Fawad Chaudhry’s portfolio of information ministry taken away and replaced with the ministry of science and technology. Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, a former information minister, was made the special assistant to the prime minister on information.

Brig (retd) Ijaz Shah, who was earlier the named parliamentary affairs minister, was appointed the interior minister.

Sadiqabad train accident

On July 11, a train collision in Sadiqabad resulted in deaths of 24 people.

The Akbar Bugti Express, travelling from Lahore to Quetta, collided with a stationary freight train at the Walhar Railway Station in Sadiqabad Tehsil of Punjab province. 

Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed later said that the accident was the result of human negligence.

Trump offers to mediate Kashmir dispute in PM Imran’s maiden US visit

In July, Prime Minister Imran Khan embarked on his maiden trip to the United States — his first since coming into power.

During the three-day trip to Washington, President Donald Trump offered to mediate the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan as he held a one-on-one meeting with PM Imran.

"I will say that we have a very good relationship with India. I know that your relationship was strained a little bit … maybe a lot," Trump said. "But we will be talking about India, it will be a big part of the conversation today."

India revokes Kashmir’s special status

On August 5, the Indian government revoked the special status of occupied Kashmir, starting what has been, to date, the longest military clampdown by the biggest 'democracy' in the world.

Soon after the revocation of Article 370, the Indian government sent thousands of troops into the valley, imposed a crippling curfew, shutting down telecommunications and internet and arresting political leaders.

Earthquake jolts parts of AJK

On September 25, an earthquake measuring 5.8 magnitude hit parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, killing at least 40 and injuring more than 500.

Roads near Mirpur were completely destroyed and vehicles overturned by tremors while bridges, mobile phone towers and electricity poles were also badly damaged.

PM Imran warns Modi in UNGA speech

In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, the prime minister criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party’s ultra-nationalist style of governance.

"There is no other narrative left for India,” PM Imran said. “There is another chance of a Pulwama-like incident to blame and ‘bomb’ Pakistan.”

The speech garnered praise, with social media lauding the prime minister on his extempore speech at the international platform.

Cabinet shakeup: Asad Umar makes a come-back

The ins and outs of the current government continued with another cabinet shakeup on November 18. 

This time around, Asad Umar made a comeback to the federal cabinet — as the minister for planning and development.

The Afghan Peace Process 

On the international front, Pakistan reiterated its continued support for the Afghan peace process.

On October 29, in a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and US Special Representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, the former reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast and sincere support to Afghan peace and reconciliation process.

PM Imran said Pakistan will continue to play its role as a sincere and honest friend for establishing peace in Afghanistan.

The Royal visit

If there was one visit that really stood out in 2019, it was the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s five-day visit to the country that began on October 14.

Prince William and Kate Middleton's visit to the country was the first by a royal couple in 13 years. The tour saw the royal couple visit an orphanage, play cricket, meet Pakistani celebs at dinner and visit the Kalash Valley and the Shaukat Khanum Hospital.

The visit also saw the Duchess of Cambridge don local designers during her visit to the country.

Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked as Pakistan captain

It was on the cards ever since Pakistan failed to make it to the last four of the Cricket World Cup in England and Wales.

On September 18, Sarfaraz Ahmed was finally removed as the captain of the national team.

“To be honest, I already had an idea that I was going to be sacked so I was mentally prepared when it actually happened,” Sarfaraz said later.

Tezgam incident

On October 31, another train incident, this time with the Rawalpindi-bound Tezgam, saw at least 75 people killed when a gas cylinder exploded in one of the carriages.

More than 200 passengers were travelling in the three carriages that caught fire.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed blamed the incident on passengers, saying that they were using gas stoves and “using [cooking] oil which added fuel to fire.”

‘Down with the government’

From Plan A to Plan Z, the much-hyped about Azadi March by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) fizzled out after just a couple of weeks.

Led by JUI-F’s Maulana Fazlur Rehman and backed by opposition parties, the Azadi March caravan had descended upon the federal cabinet to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Imran and a change of government.

Things did not turn out as planned for the protestors as a turn of weather forced the marchers to head back home empty-handed.

Kartarpur Corridor inauguration

On November 9, the Government of Pakistan, at the long-held request of the Sikh community, inaugurated the extended Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and the Kartarpur Corridor.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by PM Imran as well as former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, Navjot Singh Sidhu and actor Sunny Deol.

Army chief gets another lifeline

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa got a lifeline on November 28 after the Supreme Court allowed the federal government to grant a six-month extension to the army chief.

"There is no provision in the law for extending service of a General for another tenure; nor is there any consistent and continuous institutional practice of granting such extension," the top court said in the detailed verdict.

Lawyers attack Punjab Institute of Cardiology

On December 11, an angry mob of lawyers attacked the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, resulting in the death of three people.

Videos of the incident shared on Twitter showed that police officials, clad in riot gear, were rendered helpless as a swarm of lawyers, outnumbering the law enforcement personnel, barged into the hospital.

Punjab Information Minister Fayyaz ul Hasan Chohan was also manhandled by the mob as he arrived at the hospital to defuse the situation.

The attack drew widespread condemnation, with many calling for strict actions against the lawyers.

Pervez Musharraf sentenced to death

On December 17, after a six-year-long trial, a special court handed death sentence to former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf for imposing a state of emergency on November 3, 2007.

However, a controversial paragraph in the verdict overshadowed the judgment itself and was branded "ridiculous and barbaric".

Penned by Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth, Paragraph 66 of the verdict read, "We direct the Law Enforcement Agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad, Pakistan and be hanged for 03 days."

Test cricket returns home

And finally, after a decade, Test cricket came home in December, with Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka in a two-Test series in Rawalpindi and Karachi.

The series was the first since the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 that had seen Pakistan play its home games in United Arab Emirates.