2007年VOA标准英语-Pakistan Court Hears Challenge to Musharraf Re-

By Daniel Schearf
Islamabad
17 September 2007

Pakistan's Supreme¹ Court has begun hearing challenges to President Pervez Musharraf bid for re-election. Opposition² groups say Mr. Musharraf - who assumed power in a 1999 bloodless military coup³ - cannot legally be president while continuing as head of the Army. Daniel Schearf reports from VOA's Islamabad Bureau.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf

Pakistan's Supreme Court opened proceedings⁴ to hear petitions by political groups opposed to Mr. Musharraf seeking re-election next month.

At issue is whether Mr. Musharraf can run for president and keep his position as chief of the military. The president's supporters have indicated he will quit as Army chief if elected to another five-year term.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed is the leader of the MMA, a coalition⁵ of religious and political parties, petitioning the court.

Ahmed says they will see what the Supreme Court does with those who wrangle⁶ with the Constitution for their own political ends.

The embattled president has clashed twice with the Supreme Court this year, causing him to lose a great deal of public support.

He tried and failed to fire the chief justice. Last week, he defied a Supreme Court ruling by forcibly blocking the return of exiled opposition party leader, and former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.

Mr. Sharif's party has filed petitions in the Supreme Court against Mr. Musharraf for contempt of court.

Opposition parties are threatening mass demonstrations⁷ if Mr. Musharraf is allowed to run again. His current terms ends November 15.

His election nomination⁸ papers are due by October 15.

Another exiled former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, is accusing the Musharraf camp of pushing the country to the brink⁹ of a major crisis. She and other opposition leaders want the president to restore democracy.

Ms. Bhutto is currently discussing a possible power-sharing deal with Mr. Musharraf in order to boost his political position. ut no agreement to bring her back from exile has been reached.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

4 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 wrangle   

vi.争吵

参考例句：

• I don't want to get into a wrangle with the committee.我不想同委员会发生争执。
• The two countries fell out in a bitter wrangle over imports.这两个国家在有关进口问题的激烈争吵中闹翻了。

7 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

8 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

9 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。