VOA常速英语2007年-Pakistan's Musharraf Announces Elections Before

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
08 November 2007

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has announced national elections will be held before February 15. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad that Mr. Musharraf also promised to step-down as army chief, but his refusal to name a specific date is unlikely to appease¹ his critics.

National elections had been scheduled for early January, but Mr. Musharraf told reporters here that because of scheduling difficulties, the polls could be delayed. He pledged that the elections would not be delayed by as much as a year, as some of his critics have alleged².

"Elections in Pakistan must be held before 15 February 2008, latest," he said.

Mr. Musharraf also said he would step down as head of the military, but it was unclear when that would take place.

Mr. Musharraf's unofficial presidential re-election last month has been held up by the Supreme³ Court, which had been considering whether he was eligible⁴ to run for president while serving as army chief.

On Saturday, Mr. Musharraf dissolved the Supreme Court and placed several of its justices under house arrest. He says he is now waiting for the newly constituted court, which is filled with more sympathetic justices, to allow the election commission to validate⁵ the election.

"When they allow this notification, that is the time when I can take oath as the president and I will remove my uniform which I have been saying [since] two months back," he added.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto quickly rejected Mr. Musharraf's announcement, saying he has broken similar pledges in the past.

"We want an election date. We want a date for retirement," she said. "It's like in 2004 when he said I'll take my uniform off and he never did."

Ms. Bhutto said she wants General Musharraf to step down as army chief by November 15.

Mr. Musharraf's government has been under increasing pressure from the United States and domestic critics to restore the constitution and end emergency rule.

On Friday, Ms. Bhutto's party plans to hold a massive protest in Rawalpindi to against emergency rule and the suspension of the constitution.

Such gatherings⁶ are banned under emergency laws and police say they will not allow the demonstration⁷ to occur.

Rawalpindi's police chief also says officials have information that suicide bombers⁸ are targeting the event. Ms. Bhutto insists the rally will go forward as planned.

1 appease   

v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足

参考例句：

• He tried to appease the crying child by giving him candy.他试图给那个啼哭的孩子糖果使他不哭。
• The government tried to appease discontented workers.政府试图安抚不满的工人们。

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 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。

4 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。

5 validate   

vt.（法律）使有效，使生效

参考例句：

• You need an official signature to validate the order.你要有正式的签字，这张汇票才能生效。
• In order to validate the agreement,both parties sign it.为使协议有效，双方在上面签了字。

6 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

7 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

8 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》