VOA标准英语2008年-Pakistani Coalition Delays Decision on Post-Mus

Leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition¹ government have ended their first meeting since President Pervez Musharraf's resignation by postponing² any decisions about restoring judges deposed³ by the former president. From Islamabad, VOA's Barry Newhouse reports minority partners in the coalition revealed that they had just learned of a secret agreement between the two major parties, and needed time to study its implications.
　
This hand-out picture released by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) shows shows Pakistani leaders of the ruling coalition attending a meeting in Islamabad, 19 Aug 2008

Fresh from a victorious⁴ plan to unseat Pakistan's longtime ruler, political leaders of the coalition government appeared in good spirits when they gathered at the headquarters of the Pakistan People's Party in Islamabad Tuesday afternoon.

Hours later, the politicians said they needed more time before deciding what to do next, because they had just learned of a secret agreement between the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N party. Asfandyar Wali is leader of the Awami National Party, one of several minority factions⁵ in the coalition.

He says his party, as well as the JUI and parliamentarians from the Federally Administered Tribal⁶ Agencies were not taken into confidence by the two major parties before. He says they need to discuss the newly revealed document with their supporters.

Officials did not disclose the contents of the agreement, but it is widely believed to involve when and how the government would restore top judges deposed by President Musharraf last year.

PPP spokeswoman Sherry Rehman downplayed any disagreement among members of the fragile coalition.

"They have played a very critical role in this impeachment⁷ process and building pressure," Rehman said. "So we have conceded to their interests as well as ours and they said they need at least 72 hours at least to look at it and review their own arrangements."

While the PML-N has been adamant⁸ about restoring the judges, the PPP has been more reluctant, possibly because the justices could take up challenges to a legal amnesty granted to PPP leaders on corruption⁹ charges.

Jamiat Ulema e Islam leader Maulana Fazlur Reham said he was confident the partners could work through the differences.

He says we will be in contact with the leaders and we hope after the departure of General Musharraf we will hopefully reach a consensus¹⁰.

The government has been expected to address the restoration of the judiciary first, before moving on to what is expected to be a hotly contested struggle to elect a new president. Under Pakistan's constitution, the government has 30 days to elect a replacement¹¹.

 

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 postponing   

v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He tried to gain time by postponing his decision. 他想以迟迟不作决定的手段来争取时间。 来自辞典例句
• I don't hold with the idea of postponing further discussion of the matter. 我不赞成推迟进一步讨论这件事的想法。 来自辞典例句

3 deposed   

v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证

参考例句：

• The president was deposed in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被废黜。
• The head of state was deposed by the army. 国家元首被军队罢免了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。

5 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

6 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

7 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

8 adamant   

adj.坚硬的，固执的

参考例句：

• We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
• Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

11 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。