VOA常速英语2007年-Exiled Pakistani Opposition Leader Plans Return

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
23 November 2007

Former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Sharif is planning to return to Pakistan, ending his seven-year exile in Saudi Arabia. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad that the announcement follows an earlier, failed attempt to return.

Pakistan Muslim League spokesman Ahsan Iqbal says Mr. Sharif could return in a few days, but it is unclear whether it will be before Monday's registration¹ deadline for candidates wishing to run in parliamentary elections set for January.

"Mr. Sharif is seeing the king of Saudi Arabia today and after his farewell meeting with him he will return in a few days to Pakistan to take part in Pakistan's politics, to lead his struggle for the restoration of democracy," he said.

General Pervez Musharraf deposed² Nawaz Sharif in a coup³ in 1999. After he was convicted on corruption⁴ and other charges in 2000, Mr. Sharif was sentenced to life in prison, later commuted⁵ to 10 years in exile.

Since then, he has been an outspoken⁶ critic of General Musharraf, and is considered one of the most popular politicians in Pakistan.

Ahsan Iqbal insists Mr. Sharif has not spoken to nor struck a deal with General Musharraf and the former prime minister could be arrested when he returns. But Iqbal says he is confident Mr. Sharif will not be deported⁷, as he was when he tried to return in September. Pakistani authorities have not said how they will respond if Mr. Sharif returns.

"We are not afraid of the consequences," said Iqbal. "Even if they put him in jail that will show to the world that General Musharraf is still scared of him and is not willing to provide a level playing field to all parties for fair and free elections."

It is unclear what Saudi Arabia's position is in the situation. General Musharraf visited the kingdom earlier this week, but officials released few details of the talks and it is not known if the visit was related to Mr. Sharif's status.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Supreme⁸ Court ruled Friday that General Musharraf's decision to declare a state of emergency and suspend the constitution was legal.

On Thursday the court, made up of justices chosen by President Musharraf, dismissed the final legal challenges to his re-election. The move cleared the way for the president to honor his pledge to step down as army chief, possibly as soon as Saturday.

Opposition⁹ parties are discussing the formation of a broad alliance to oppose President Musharraf and push for a restoration of democracy. The parties have not yet decided¹⁰ if they will boycott¹¹ January elections.

1 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

2 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》

3 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。

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 commuted   

通勤( commute的过去式和过去分词 )； 减（刑）； 代偿

参考例句：

• His sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment. 他的判决由死刑减为无期徒刑。
• The death sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment. 死刑可能減为无期徒刑。

6 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。

7 deported   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止

参考例句：

• They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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。

9 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。

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。