2007年VOA标准英语-Huge Welcome for Suspended Judge Could Mean Tro

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
06 May 2007

Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry's vehicle, covered with red rose pattels, is on the way to Lahore, 05 May 2007

Pakistan's chief justice was cheered by thousands of supporters in the eastern city of Lahore as he took his challenge to President Pervez Musharraf to the people. Mr. Musharraf suspended the judge in March, and has faced growing public protests ever since. VOA Correspondent Benjamin Sand reports from Islamabad.

 

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Lahore to cheer on the former chief justice, Iftakhar Mohammed Chaudhry. They threw flowers in the path of his motorcade, and banged drums to welcome him.

Addressing a crowd of lawyers outside the city's High Court building, Chaudhry urged his supporters to continue their fight to protect the country's independent judiciary.

He says any country based on dictatorship instead of the rule of law inevitably¹ destroys basic rights.

Chaudry did not specifically mention the military-backed government of President Pervez Musharraf, who suspended the judge in March for alleged² abuse of power. Nevertheless Chaudry's speech is widely seen here as a direct challenge to the president's authority.

Chaudry took over as chief justice in 2005 and has ruled against the Musharraf government in several high-profile cases.

His supporters insist his firing was to silence the country's independent judiciary before a possible constitutional challenge to the president's re-election later this year.

Massive protests have been held almost weekly in major cities across Pakistan since the suspension. Chaudry is appealing his removal, and a judicial³ panel is reviewing the case.

On Saturday, President Muhsarraf warned his opponents not to politicize the issue.

Nevertheless the rally in Lahore was by far the largest in several weeks, and is dominating headlines throughout the country. The rally was blacked out of state-owned television, but was shown on private channels.

Political analysts⁴ say the enormous turnout suggests the president faces an uphill battle as he tries to defuse the crisis.

Lahore is widely considered the country's unofficial political capital.

It is also President Musharraf's main political base, and experts warn that if he loses backing there, he could be in serious trouble in this year's national elections.

1 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 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。

4 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。