VOA标准英语2009年-Analysts: Democracy in Pakistan Yet to

Two years after the assassination¹ of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the political situation there can best be described as unstable² and fragile.

Ravi Khanna | Washington 25 December 2009

 
Pakistani lawyers celebrate Supreme³ Court decision to reopen corruption⁴ cases against President Asif Ali Zardari and some of his cabinet members

December 27, 2007. Pakistan's charismatic former Prime Miister Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated⁵ during her election campaign, as she vowed⁶ to end military rule and restore democracy in the country.

Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, then led her Pakistan People's Party to victory and later became president after Pervez Musharraf stepped down late last year. But analysts⁸ say the Zardari government is too shaky. They point to the economy as well as the recent decision by the Supreme Court to reopen corruption cases against Mr. Zardari and some of his cabinet members.

Lawyers were jubilant, and the court action was also welcomed by many ordinary Pakistanis.

Some say the Supreme Court's move could have the support of the Army, which they say feels embarrassed by President Zardari.

Lisa Curtis is a senior analyst⁷ at the Heritage Foundation.

"You know what he said on 'no-first use' of nuclear weapons, I don't think that was authorized⁹ by the military and I think it made the military nervous. Some of his efforts to make overtures¹⁰ to India, that was not appreciated," she said.

But Shuja Nawaz at the Atlantic Council says the Supreme Court decision will help to shake the government out of its complacency and will force it to be more effective.

"The fact that the cases [of corruption] have been reopened means that the people who have been charged, and it is over 8,000 of them, will get a chance now of a speedy trial. No more the old system where somebody could be in jail for 11 years, as was in the case of Mr. Zardari," he noted¹¹.

But Nawaz says he is concerned that the court could cross the limits in its judicial¹² activism.

"...I am more concerned about the Supreme Court getting into micromanaging the government, identifying positions that need to be filled and candidates that need to be considered for those positions," he added.  "There are some reports that it wants to do that and I think there should be a measure of caution."

Lisa Curtis at the Heritage Foundation says she is worried more about political uncertainty¹³ coming at a time when U.S.-Pakistan relations are tense. She points to Americans having difficulties in getting Pakistani visas and U.S. diplomats¹⁴ being searched at the Pakistani airports.

"I think as Pakistan feels more pressure from the U.S. to go after the Afghan Taliban, to shut down the [terrorist group] Lashkar-e-Taiba, it is trying to see what sticks it has in its tool kit¹⁵ to be able to push back on the U.S," she noted.

Nawaz says he also is concerned about U.S.-Pakistan relations. Hee says they could take a "deep dive" if the two sides are not careful. He says the U.S. must understand Pakistan's long-term concerns in the region.

"And Pakistan has to realize that the U.S. is also facing a political timetable at home, which is obviously behind many of the calls for early action by Pakistan against the Afghan Taliban," he said.

As for Pakistan's democracy in the wake of the Bhutto assassination two years ago, both analysts describe situation as mixed.

Nawaz says it is much better because Pakistan now has a civilian¹⁶ administration, a restored judiciary and public support to fight militants¹⁷. But Curtis says the democracy in Pakistan has not taken root yet, because the civilian government must work fast toward building democratic institutions and reining¹⁸ in corruption.
 

1 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。

2 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

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 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。

5 assassinated   

v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏

参考例句：

• The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。
• Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句

6 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

7 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。

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 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

10 overtures   

n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲

参考例句：

• Their government is making overtures for peace. 他们的政府正在提出和平建议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had lately begun to make clumsy yet endearing overtures of friendship. 最近他开始主动表示友好，样子笨拙却又招人喜爱。 来自辞典例句

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 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。

13 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

14 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

16 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

17 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。

18 reining   

勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理

参考例句：

• "That's a fine bevy, Ma'm,'said Gerald gallantly, reining his horse alongside the carriage. "太太！好一窝漂亮的云雀呀！" 杰拉尔德殷勤地说，一面让自己的马告近塔尔顿的马车。
• I was a temperamental genius in need of reining in by stabler personalities. 我是个需要由更稳重的人降服住的神经质的天才。