VOA常速英语2007-Pakistan's Presidential Election, Power-Sharing

By Daniel Schearf
Islamabad
05 October 2007

Pakistan's Supreme¹ Court has rejected requests to postpone² Saturday's presidential election, but says the results will be kept secret until the court decides whether President Pervez Musharraf can legally run for re-election. Daniel Schearf reports for VOA from Islamabad.

The Supreme Court's decision Friday means Pakistan's presidential election can go ahead as planned despite pending³ legal challenges.

Opposition⁴ parties had argued the election should be postponed⁵ until after the Supreme Court rules on whether or not the incumbent⁶, General Pervez Musharraf, can be re-elected while still head of the army. They also argued the election should not be held until after a new parliament is elected in January.

In a unanimous decision Friday, the high court dismissed petitions for a delay, and said the vote can go forward as scheduled. But it said the result will be kept secret pending a ruling on Mr. Musharraf's eligibility⁷.

The vote is limited to members of national and provincial⁸ parliaments, and the public at large will not take part. The current assemblies are dominated by General Musharraf's supporters, virtually guaranteeing his re-election.

Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum welcomed the decision Friday.

"What is important is one, the polling will be held on date; two - and which is the most important thing - these assemblies, these assemblies will vote for the president. And, that was the whole battle," he said.

Friday's ruling means the Supreme Court can still disqualify Mr. Musharraf after the election, even if he wins as expected.

The court said the winner of the vote will not take office until after the judges rule on the eligibility issue. The Supreme Court is to resume hearings on October 17.

Separately, Mr. Musharraf's government on Friday gave final approval to a power-sharing deal with the opposition party leader and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto.

Latif Khosa, a lawyer for Ms. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, also welcomed Friday's court ruling.

Khosa says it is a winning situation for both parties. But ultimately, he says, he believes the constitution and the law will win, and people in uniform will go back to their barracks.

Ms. Bhutto, who has been in self-imposed exile for eight years, wants Mr. Musharraf to give up his military post if he wins, and he has agreed. Their agreement would allow her to return and seek re-election as prime minister.

In return, Ms. Bhutto's party, the largest in the country, would lend its support to General Musharraf, assuming he wins another five-year term.

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 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

3 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

4 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。

5 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

6 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

7 eligibility   

n.合格，资格

参考例句：

• What are the eligibility requirements? 病人被选参加试验的要求是什么？ 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望
• Eligibility for HINARI access is based on gross national income (GNI). 进入HINARI获取计划是依据国民总收入来评定的。

8 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。