VOA标准英语 Legal Ambiguity in Pakistan Emboldens Militants, Wor

The Pakistani government's recent approval of Islamic courts in parts of the country's northwest was aimed at bringing peace to a region that had long suffered from clashes between Taliban fighters and the military. But the agreement's legal ambiguity¹ has emboldened² militants³ and confirmed the fears of critics who said it would undermine the government's authority.

When Pakistan's national assembly overwhelmingly voted in support of the plan to implement⁴ Islamic courts in the northwest Malakand region, lawmakers said the courts were already sanctioned under the country's constitution and would pacify⁵ militants.

Just one week later, those assumptions are in doubt.

Taliban fighters in the region have not put down their weapons. Armed militants have spread into nearby areas and the mediator⁶ of the agreement is now denouncing lawmakers and judicial⁷ officials as infidels.
　
Supporters of Pakistan's hardline cleric Sufi Muhammad listen to his speech during a public meeting in Swat, 19 Apr 2009

Cleric Sufi Muhammad told thousands of supporters Sunday in Swat that Pakistan's democratic institutions are un-Islamic.

He says government officials and religious leaders are supporting this system of the infidels and all of their actions are against Islam. He says their living and death is that of the non-believers.

Sufi Mohammad's speech has been roundly criticized by lawmakers, including hard-line religious parties generally sympathetic to the Taliban. Farooq Sattar, a lawmaker from a minority political party that has been critical of the courts agreement, says the remarks should convince lawmakers to revisit the deal.

"They have opened allegations on the parliament that this is an un-Islamic parliament, the assemblies are un-Islamic, the judiciaries and the judicial system are un-Islamic," said Sattar. "I think it is high time that all religious and political parties must rise above the occasion, and they must now speak out."

Analysts⁸ say the government's decision to sanction Islamic courts in the Swat valley and other areas of the Malakand region has led to a crisis of judicial and government authority.

A constitutional law expert in Karachi, Zain Sheikh, says under Pakistan's constitution there is a judicial procedure for ensuring all laws are in accordance with the Koran. But he says the new Islamic court judges, known as qazis, have unprecedented⁹ legal authority that lies outside this framework

"Each qazi will decide the case as he wants to in his interpretation¹⁰ of the Koran," said Sheikh. "The bottom line is that unless parliament reviews these regulations and drastically changes them, this is the beginning of a parallel system of justice in Pakistan."

Zain Sheikh worries the courts could have what he called a "snowball effect" with Taliban-influenced Islamic courts undermining government authority in other regions.

The back and forth¹¹ negotiations¹² over the Malakand courts deal appear to be nearing yet another standoff, with lawmakers urging the government to contain the militants and rein¹³ in courts that lie outside the judicial system. Taliban groups and their supporters are vowing¹⁴ to expand the courts system to enforce Islamic law across Pakistan.

1 ambiguity   

n.模棱两可；意义不明确

参考例句：

• The telegram was misunderstood because of its ambiguity.由于电文意义不明确而造成了误解。
• Her answer was above all ambiguity.她的回答毫不含糊。

2 emboldened   

v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

5 pacify   

vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰

参考例句：

• He tried to pacify the protesters with promises of reform.他试图以改革的承诺安抚抗议者。
• He tried to pacify his creditors by repaying part of the money.他为安抚债权人偿还了部分借款。

6 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

7 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

8 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。

9 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

10 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

11 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

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 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

14 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。