VOA常速英语2007年-Sharif's Party Decides to Participate in Pakist

By Daniel Schearf
Islamabad
10 December 2007

Campaigning for January elections has begun following the decision by the political party of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to participate. Opposition¹ parties had threatened to stay away from the election to reduce the legitimacy² of President Pervez Musharraf, but the main opposition parties failed to agree on a plan. Daniel Schearf reports from Islamabad.

Election campaigning began in earnest Monday, a day after former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his party decided³ not to boycott⁴ polls called by President Pervez Musharraf for January 8.

Sharif began touring the country to increase support for his Pakistan Muslim League-N party.

The PML-N had tried to organize an opposition boycott of the elections after Mr. Musharraf declared a "state of emergency" in November and replaced the Supreme⁵ Court.

But another former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto and her Pakistan People's Party, the largest in Pakistan, decided to contest the elections rather than leave the field open for Mr. Musharraf to dominate.

Ahsan Iqbal, the spokesman for Sharif's party said it was then forced to make the same strategic decision.

"Our first preference was that all opposition parties should collectively boycott the elections to deny any credibility or legitimacy to this election," said Iqbal. "But, unfortunately, Pakistan People's Party, Ms. Bhutto's party, did not agree with us and they said that they would participate in elections regardless."

Iqbal says Ms. Bhutto's party also refused to support the PML-N's demand that Supreme Court judges deposed⁶ by Mr. Musharraf be reinstated before the election.

The PML-N and others say the elections are less likely to be free and fair if the Supreme Court remains⁷ stacked with Musharraf loyalists.

Mr. Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in November, fired Supreme Court justices who refused to swear an oath of loyalty⁸, and clamped down on independent media.

Mr. Musharraf said the power play was justified⁹ to prevent "interference" in other institutions and in efforts to fight terrorism, a key issue of Pakistan's allies in Washington. However, analysts¹⁰ have noted¹¹ that Mr. Musharraf demanded Supreme Court loyalty just a few days before they were to rule on the legitimacy of his presidential candidacy.

Washington has repeatedly expressed disappointment in its close ally and urged Mr. Musharraf to lift the state of emergency and controls on the media and opposition politicians.

President Musharraf has said he will end the state of emergency on December 15 and, despite repeated attempts to silence opponents, has promised free and fair elections.

1 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。

2 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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。

6 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》

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

9 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

10 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。

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。