2007年VOA标准英语-Pakistan Supreme Court Ends Former Prime Minist

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
23 August 2007

Pakistan's supreme¹ court has ruled exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif can return to Pakistan and resume his political career. The ruling is the latest in a series of setbacks for Pakistan's embattled President Pervez Musharraf who strongly opposed Sharif's return. From Islamabad VOA correspondent Benjamin Sand reports.

Supporters of Nawaz Sharif celebrate Pakistan's Supreme Court's decision in favor of the former leader, 23 Aug  2007, in Islamabad

Hundreds of jubilant pro-Nawaz Sharif activists² thronged³ the Supreme Court building Thursday to cheer the ruling.

In a brief statement the court said Sharif and his family have "an inalienable right" to return to Pakistan and warned authorities not to obstruct⁵ their re-entry.

Sharif lawyer Fakhar Ud Din⁴ Ibrahim Jee described the ruling as a landmark⁶ case for Pakistan. He said that above all else the public will now have full confidence in the rule of law.

After nearly seven years in exile the former prime minister is expected to return to Pakistan shortly.

Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in central London in Oct. 2006

Sharif is now considered one of President Musharraf's main political opponents ahead of national elections expected later this year.

The former prime minister leads one Pakistan's largest opposition⁷ parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N.

He was Prime Minister until 1999 when then General Musharraf, who was then the head of the army, ousted⁸ Sharif in a military coup⁹.

Sharif was convicted of a series of criminal misdeeds in 2000 but the government allowed him to leave prison in exchange for a ten-year exile.

The court's decision ending that exile is the latest blow to Mr. Musharraf's military backed government.

Parliamentary and presidential elections are expected later this year and the president's public support is at an all time low.

Benazir Bhutto (file photo)

Mr. Sharif and another exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto are both expected to return to Pakistan and threaten the president's once absolute hold on power.

The ruling itself was issued by chief justice Iftakhar Mohammed Chaudhry, whom the president unsuccessfully tried to replace earlier this year, reportedly over concerns the outspoken¹⁰ judge was too independent.

Attention now turns to Ms. Bhutto who has discussed a possible political alliance with Mr. Musharraf if he agrees to end his dual¹¹ role as political and military chief.

Political analyst¹² Shafqat Mahmood says that deal or no deal, there is little reason to believe Thursday's ruling will change the president's plans to seek another five years term in office.

Pervez Musharraf

"He is determined¹³ to hang on. He has this messiah complex which means he feels that without him the country will be immeasurably damaged," he said.

The United States continues to back Mr. Musharraf, who has been a key ally in the U.S. led war against terror.

But U.S. officials have also ratcheted up the pressure on the president to crack down on pro-Taleban and al Qaida militants¹⁴ operating inside Pakistan.

The White House has also strongly backed the need for completely free and fair elections later this year.

1 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。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 thronged   

v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Mourners thronged to the funeral. 吊唁者蜂拥着前来参加葬礼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The department store was thronged with people. 百货商店挤满了人。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 din   

n.喧闹声，嘈杂声

参考例句：

• The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
• They tried to make themselves heard over the din of the crowd.他们力图让自己的声音盖过人群的喧闹声。

5 obstruct   

v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物

参考例句：

• He became still more dissatisfied with it and secretly did everything in his power to obstruct it.他对此更不满意，尽在暗里使绊子。
• The fallen trees obstruct the road.倒下的树将路堵住了。

6 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

7 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。

8 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

9 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。

10 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

11 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

12 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。

13 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

14 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。