VOA常速英语2007-Pakistan Interior Ministry Recommends No Ban on

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
24 October 2007

Pakistani officials have drawn¹ up recommendations for ensuring security during the country's upcoming political campaign season, following last week's devastating² bombing in Karachi. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad that officials did not propose banning public rallies, but they did recommend avoiding big public processions that have been a hallmark of campaigns in the past.

Pakistan's interior minister said that, while it is difficult to prevent suicide attacks such as the one that struck Benazir Bhutto's motorcade, more can be done to minimize threats to campaigns posed by what he called "extremist forces."

Javed Iqbal Cheema, the ministry³'s anti-terrorism chief, said officials have drawn up a code of conduct for campaign activities, and plan to discuss it with all political parties.

"There will be no ban on public meetings, but the ministry has recommended in the code of conduct that big processions in the streets or in the roads should be avoided," Cheema said.

 

Officials with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party have charged that restricting public campaigns has more to do with minimizing their party's ability to turn out massive crowds than to prevent another attack.

Cheema insisted the government does not want to restrict political activities, but rather minimize the threat of attacks.

Meanwhile, the top officer leading the investigation⁴ into the attack on Benazir Bhutto withdrew from the case after she said she had no confidence in him.

When asked about the withdrawal⁵ and Ms. Bhutto's demand for international assistance in the investigation, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said he is confident the case will be solved.

"Pakistan is a sovereign country," said Aziz. "We know what we are doing. We don't need assistance. And, at the same time, as I said, we have solved 100 percent of all such cases in the past."

Also Wednesday, Pakistan's election commission formally announced that parliament will be dissolved on November 15, and elections will be held no later than 60 days after that.

This could be the first time in Pakistan's history that a parliament will finish its term.

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。