VOA常速英语2007-Pakistan's Bhutto Prepares to Return Home

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
16 October 2007

The political turmoil¹ that has gripped Pakistan for weeks could take several more turns this week, with key hearings in the nation's Supreme² Court and the expected return of exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad.

Allies of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto are preparing a grand welcome for her expected return on Thursday. Supporters of her Pakistan People's Party are plastering posters and billboards³ across the southern city of Karachi, where her flight will land.

"What we are contemplating⁴ is the largest-ever reception that any leader in Pakistan would be getting," said Latif Khosa, a PPP legislator.

For many Pakistanis, Ms. Bhutto is a symbol of the democratic rule that ended when General Pervez Musharraf seized power in a coup⁵ in 1999, even though she was not prime minister at the time.

Although she had been facing corruption⁶ charges from her days as prime minister and has lived in self-imposed exile, Ms. Bhutto remains⁷ a powerful political force and critic of military rule.

But some political analysts⁹ say an amnesty deal brokered¹⁰ with President Musharraf undermines her democratic credentials¹¹. The government has dropped corruption charges dating from 1986 to 1999 against Ms. Bhutto and other politicians.

Ayesha Siddiqa, a political analyst⁸ in Islamabad, says the amnesty is part of a power-sharing deal with President Musharraf.

"I'm very fond of the PPP, but the problem that a lot of people have with this kind of deal making is that it will absolutely remove pressure from all of the political leadership to become accountable, to have transparency and to become more answerable to the general public," said Siddiqa.

Ms. Bhuttos' supporters say the deal has not undercut her credibility, and they claim that the negotiations¹² led to President Musharraf's pledge to step down as army chief later this year.

Pakistan's Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of the decision to drop the corruption charges. President Musharraf has asked Ms. Bhutto to delay her arrival until the legal issues are decided¹³, but she has refused.

The justices will consider on Wednesday whether Mr. Musharraf was eligible¹⁴ to run for president earlier this month while he was still head of the army.

Last month, the government deported¹⁵ former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as he tried to enter the country. Mr. Sharif went into exile after President Musharraf took power.

Although Mr. Sharif's return to Pakistan failed, it appears to have boosted his popularity.

Recent opinion polls show about 36 percent of voters thought Mr. Sharif should lead the country, compared with 28 percent for Ms. Bhutto and 17 percent for Mr. Musharraf. Mr. Sharif's supporters say he still plans to return to Pakistan.

On Wednesday, the court also considers a petition disputing Mr. Sharif's deportation¹⁶.

Ayaz Amir,  a columnist¹⁷ with the Dawn newspaper in Islamabad, says this is the first time in Pakistan's history the courts have played such a prominent role in the nation's politics.

"This is the new thing which has emerged in Pakistan," said Amir. "The courts, they are asserting themselves and Musharraf is wary¹⁸ and the establishment - the government - is afraid."

If the court rules against Mr. Musharraf in his presidential eligibility¹⁹ case, it could invalidate his presidential election and throw Pakistan's politics into further turmoil.

1 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

2 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。

3 billboards   

n.广告牌( billboard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Large billboards have disfigured the scenery. 大型告示板已破坏了景色。 来自辞典例句
• Then, put the logo in magazines and on billboards without telling anyone what it means. 接着我们把这个商标刊在杂志和广告看板上，却不跟任何人透漏它的涵意。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年4月号

4 contemplating   

深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想

参考例句：

• You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。
• She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。

5 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。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

10 brokered   

adj.由权力经纪人安排（或控制）的v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的过去式和过去分词 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排…

参考例句：

• a peace plan brokered by the UN 由联合国出面协商的和平计划
• Your husband brokered the deal to go in, transfrer the assets and get our man out. 你丈夫后来插了一脚，把生意都抢了过去，我们的人也被挤了出来。 来自电影对白

11 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

12 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

13 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

14 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

15 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

17 columnist   

n.专栏作家

参考例句：

• The host was interviewing a local columnist.节目主持人正在同一位当地的专栏作家交谈。
• She's a columnist for USA Today.她是《今日美国报》的专栏作家。

18 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

19 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。