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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Opponents of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf are continuing to plot a strategy to unseat the unpopular leader that they say will unfold in the coming weeks. Following last week's impeachment1 threat from the country's ruling parties, lawmakers are preparing a series of legislative2 actions aimed at publicly undermining the president. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from the Pakistani capital.
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf (file photo)
Leaders of Pakistan's two major political parties, the Pakistan People's Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N party say they are working on a so-called "charge sheet" outlining a series of impeachable3 offenses4 allegedly committed by the president during his nearly nine years as leader of Pakistan.
But before beginning formal impeachment proceedings5, Pakistan People's Party spokeswoman Sherry Rehman says the country's four provincial6 assemblies will pass measures calling for the president to take a vote of confidence.
"We are giving space and time to the provinces first. The provincial assemblies are moving their own resolutions, we must give them that time, they must occupy that space today," said Rehman.
There is no constitutional measure requiring Mr. Musharraf to take a vote of confidence from the provincial assemblies and parliament, which would almost certainly oppose him with substantial majorities. But analysts7 say publicly demanding the president take such a vote would further undermine his already weakened political power and strengthen the impeachment movement in Pakistan's parliament.
Pakistan Muslim League-N party spokesman Siddiq-ul Farooq says party leaders ultimately hope the building confrontation8 will not lead to impeachment.
"Actually the leadership wants that instead of being impeached9 by the parliament, if he himself resigns then that will be comparatively advisable for him," he said.
Mr. Musharraf has proven himself to be a savvy10 political survivor11 during his long tenure12 as ruler and has rarely backed away from political confrontations13. But with Pakistan's military giving no indication that it will intervene in the political standoff, and the president's own political party severely14 weakened in February polls, analysts say the president has few options.
Political commentator15 Nasim Zahra says resignation may be preferable to facing public impeachment proceedings that are likely to cover a long list of allegations during Mr. Musharraf's tenure. She said Mr. Musharraf may not want to drag the country through what she called a "messy affair."
"Impeachment can be long and drawn16 out - it can lead to confrontations within the political arena17 that I do not think Pakistan can afford. I think that it can also raise issues that are best not discussed in the political arena - I think it would be very hard to have a smooth process of impeachment," said Zahra.
Impeaching18 President Musharraf would require 295 of the 442 seats in a joint19 session of Pakistan's parliament. The president's political opponents boasted Monday they have more than 340 lawmakers pledging to vote for the measure.
1 impeachment | |
n.弹劾;控告;怀疑 | |
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2 legislative | |
n.立法机构,立法权;adj.立法的,有立法权的 | |
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3 impeachable | |
adj.可控告的,可弹劾的 | |
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4 offenses | |
n.进攻( offense的名词复数 );(球队的)前锋;进攻方法;攻势 | |
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5 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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6 provincial | |
adj.省的,地方的;n.外省人,乡下人 | |
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7 analysts | |
分析家,化验员( analyst的名词复数 ) | |
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8 confrontation | |
n.对抗,对峙,冲突 | |
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9 impeached | |
v.控告(某人)犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 );弹劾;对(某事物)怀疑;提出异议 | |
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10 savvy | |
v.知道,了解;n.理解能力,机智,悟性;adj.有见识的,懂实际知识的,通情达理的 | |
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11 survivor | |
n.生存者,残存者,幸存者 | |
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12 tenure | |
n.终身职位;任期;(土地)保有权,保有期 | |
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13 confrontations | |
n.对抗,对抗的事物( confrontation的名词复数 ) | |
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14 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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15 commentator | |
n.注释者,解说者;实况广播评论员 | |
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16 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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17 arena | |
n.竞技场,运动场所;竞争场所,舞台 | |
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18 impeaching | |
v.控告(某人)犯罪( impeach的现在分词 );弹劾;对(某事物)怀疑;提出异议 | |
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19 joint | |
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
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