2007年VOA标准英语-Musharraf to Step Down as Military Leader After

By Daniel Schearf
Islamabad
18 September 2007

A lawyer for Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has said Mr. Musharraf plans to give up his post as chief of the military if he wins forthcoming presidential elections. The statement was made to Pakistan's Supreme¹ Court as it was holding hearings on petitions challenging the right of Mr. Musharraf to run for president. Daniel Schearf reports from Islamabad.

Government attorney Sharifuddin Pirzada told Pakistan's Supreme Court Tuesday that, "If elected for a second term as president, General Pervez Musharraf shall relinquish² charge of the office of chief of army staff soon after elections and before taking the oath of president for the second term."

The lawyer, a close aide to Mr. Musharraf, spoke³ as opposition⁴ party petitions are being heard in the Supreme Court calling for Mr. Musharraf to be disqualified as a candidate in the next presidential election.

Ahsan Iqbal is spokesman for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, an opposition political party. He says Mr. Musharraf has placed himself above the rule of law and should not be allowed to run for president.

"Pakistan is at a very defining moment," Iqbal noted⁵. "Pakistan and people of Pakistan feel that this hybrid⁶ of dictatorship and democracy has hurt Pakistan enough and now it is time for Pakistan to move forward with pure and undiluted democracy, rule of law and supremacy⁷ of constitution."

Mr. Musharraf, who took over Pakistan in a 1999 military coup⁸, is under pressure to return Pakistan to democratic rule. His current term as president ends on November 15.

Some opposition party members are threatening to resign from their positions in the parliament if he is allowed to run for president.

Mr. Musharraf appears to be trying to allay⁹ concerns that he could stay as both chief of the army and president of the country. However, this weekend he approved a change in election rules that would allow him to retain both positions, placing doubts on his intentions.

Mr. Musharraf attempted to remove the chief justice earlier this year but was forced to back down after massive street protests.

Last week he removed a political competitor by deporting¹⁰ former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, leader of opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, in violation¹¹ of a Supreme Court ruling.

If Mr. Musharraf gives up his military post it could pave the way for a power-sharing arrangement with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Ms. Bhutto and Mr. Musharraf have been trying to broker¹² a deal for months that would eliminate long-standing corruption¹³ charges against her and allow her to run for a third term as prime minister in return for her supporting his continuing as president. One of her key demands was that Mr. Musharraf must step down as Army leader.

1 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。

2 relinquish   

v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手

参考例句：

• He was forced to relinquish control of the company.他被迫放弃公司的掌控权。
• They will never voluntarily relinquish their independence.他们绝对不会自动放弃独立。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 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。

5 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。

6 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

7 supremacy   

n.至上；至高权力

参考例句：

• No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员，无人能胜过她。
• Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说，她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。

8 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。

9 allay   

v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等)

参考例句：

• The police tried to allay her fears but failed.警察力图减轻她的恐惧，但是没有收到什么效果。
• They are trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.他们正竭力减轻公众对这种疾病传播的恐惧。

10 deporting   

v.将…驱逐出境( deport的现在分词 )；举止

参考例句：

11 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

12 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

13 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。