VOA标准英语2008年-Parliamentary Elections in Pakistan Postponed t

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Islamabad
01 January 2008

Pakistani officials say elections will be delayed until February because it is impossible to hold next week's parliamentary vote on time. Election Commission Secretary-General Kanwar Dilshad told reporters Tuesday that a new date will be announced Wednesday, following talks with political parties. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from Islamabad.

The secretary-general of the election commission, Kunwar Dilshad, told reporters in Islamabad Tuesday the date for the elections will be decided¹ after talks with political parties.

"Election commission of Pakistan has decided that, in the first stance, the political parties may be consulted, may be, may be consulted," said Dilshad. "So, after the consultation² with the political parties, the date of the poll will be decided."

Dilshad said it looked impossible to hold elections as originally scheduled on January 8. He said the new date would be announced on Wednesday.

Opposition³ parties want the elections held as scheduled next week. But officials from the ruling Pakistan Muslim-Q party say the polls may be delayed for several months because of unrest following the assassination⁴ of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto last week.

Sherry Rehman, the spokeswoman of Ms. Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party says the government should allow the elections to take place as planned.

"The party has very clearly stated its position, we would like the elections to be held on time," she said. "The PPP being the most affected⁵ party by this assassination - if it is able to go into election and fight for the kind of political participation⁶ that Ms. Bhutto gave her life for, then I think the government of Pakistan should have no problem."

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who heads a large opposition party, has threatened to take his supporters to the streets if the elections are delayed.

Election commission officials say a delay is likely because many of their offices were burned and voter rolls destroyed in riots that broke out after the assassination.

U.S. officials say a slight delay in the election date would be acceptable, if all the political parties agree and if there is a definite date for the elections.

The death of former Prime Minister Bhutto has worsened the turmoil⁷ in Pakistan, which has been wracked for nearly a year by political disputes and a growing insurgency⁸ by Islamic militants⁹. President Pervez Musharraf has become widely unpopular, after firing a Supreme¹⁰ Court justice early in 2007 and then imposing¹¹ emergency rule and media censorship a few months ago.

The elections are seen as key to restoring political calm and establishing democratic rule.

1 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。

2 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

3 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。

4 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

7 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。

8 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

9 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

10 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。

11 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。