2007年VOA标准英语-Pakistan Supreme Court Dismisses Challenges to

By Daniel Schearf
Islamabad
24 September 2007

Pakistan's Supreme¹ Court has dismissed two challenges to President Pervez Musharraf's bid for reelection, but the justices are still considering several others. Pakistani lawyers have also nominated a former Supreme Court justice to run in the October presidential election as a symbolic² challenge to Mr. Musharraf. Daniel Schearf reports from Islamabad.

The Supreme Court Monday dismissed without explanation one petition calling for Mr. Musharraf to immediately step down.

The other dismissed petition had argued the courts failed to do enough to stop a 2003 amendment³ to the constitution legalizing Mr. Musharraf's dual⁴ role as both president and chief of the military. The high court said it was too late for such a complaint.

The court is expected to rule this week on several other petitions against Mr. Musharraf, including one by opposition⁵ parties who argue he should not be allowed to run for president while chief of the military.

Also on Monday, Pakistan's Supreme Court Bar Association announced its nomination⁶ of Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed as a presidential candidate and challenger to Mr. Musharraf.

Munir Malik, the president of the legal fraternity, acknowledges Justice Ahmed is not running to win. He says the association will withdraw Mr. Ahmed's nomination if the Supreme Court rules Mr. Musharraf has the right to run for another five-year term as president.

"I don't believe it's going to come in our favor," said Malik. "But, the moral verdict is ours. That is why Waji is a candidate."

The retired⁷ Supreme Court justice is widely respected for having chosen to step down rather than swear allegiance to Mr. Musharraf's government after he took power in a 1999 military coup⁸.

Security was tight around Pakistan's Supreme Court building Monday. Police clashed with stone-throwing protesters and arrested at least 20 who tried to reach the courthouse.

Despite the security, a man managed to spray black paint on the face of Mr. Musharraf's lawyer as he was entering the building.

Mr. Musharraf's government has come under considerable criticism for failing to stop violent extremists and for increasingly authoritarian⁹ behavior.

His failed attempt to fire the chief justice earlier this year led to massive street protests.

And he deported¹⁰ former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was returning from seven years in exile to mount a challenge to his presidency¹¹.

Opposition parties say hundreds of their members have been arrested in recent days, including several party leaders.

The U.S. embassy in Islamabad Monday released a statement calling the arrests "extremely disturbing" and "confusing" and said the party leaders should be released as soon as possible.

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 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

3 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

4 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

5 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。

6 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

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 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

10 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》

11 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。