From Pakistan to Spain

So as a break from the U.S. elections, we finally had the Pakistani elections the other day.... The results, as I am sure you all know, reflect that the "people have spoken", and also seemed to prove that for once, we had fair, unrigged elections, that also came with no violence or bloodshed!  I think that in itself can be seen as a positive victory, and a step forward.... Now the subsequent deliverance of democracy and the start of a new age that could (and should) be expected in this "movement" is indeed questionable.... So now what? Musharraf is out (more or less...) And who is in?  Well in case you don't know, the two oppositon parties won the most seats, with PPP coming in first (the late Benazir Bhutto's party) and PML-N  (the exiled Nawaz Sharif's party).  The PPP is  basically headed now by Asif Zardari, Benazir's husband, who carries his own history of corruption and deception and other shady business.  Nawaz Sharif also has his own set of skeletons, corruption, and is still techincally exiled from the nation.  So in overthrowing the army dictator in a sense, we are left with what?  Two corrupt civilians?  Pakistan's history of civilian leadership in the 90's wasn't exactly the best of times for the nation on many levels, but at least we can say that there was a vote and voice involved by the people, and some distribution of power within the government.  And oddly enough, in efforts to bring change, we've come 360 degrees around right back where we started.  But now left with a mess of anti-terrorism campaigns, intense U.S. foreign policy, continued terrorism within the nation, and all sorts of religious factions applyin pressure from all sides.   Can this implementation of "democracy"  direct  Pakistan towards a "better" path?   I don't know honestly.  We can only hope.  Now as for Asif Zardari, all his corruption history aside, I don't know if he is even experienced enough to run the nation, particularly this day in age with so much going on with the terorrism issue both within our country and with U.S. policy.  Perhaps the coalition was a move to bring the country's opposition parties and people closer together in a common effort to really do good for the nation and the peopole and our freedoms and the entire democratic process.  Once again, we can only hope.  We'll have to see what kind of deal and decisions are come to with the party heads, and what they do with Mush in the end, and then hope that we start to move in a positive direction and good things indeed happen.  I feel they can start by undoing some of the damage and laws created by Mush during the emergency, and reinstating many of the judges, setting an example that the new government intends to undue some of the questionable moves  by Mush, and then show us that this "coalition" is indeed the right thing for Pakistan..... But again I am weary.  It is only in Pakistan that one can hope not for the better leader, but the one who is least corrupt!

Anyway, more on that later.... I am finally taking my USMLE step 3 exam next week, which I need for my medical license.  I will then be a licensed physician!  (Scary I know....)  Next friday I also depart for Spain.  That's right! 2 weeks with 2 friends taking us to Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, and Marbella.  I am very excited!  Too bad the dollar sucks compared to the Euro, and I have no money... It's gona take a lot of moonlighting to pay this trip off!  But it will be worth it...

So in the end I ask if anyone will be in Spain for the first two weeks of March, or has any cool friends there, do let me know.  Moreover if you have been to Barcelona or anywhere else, give me some not-to-miss restaurants, lounges, districts, etc....

Comments

[Humz]

I heard there was only a 30% turnout. The message is loud and clear - to everyone that was running in the elections - you all suck!

[yatin]

Barcelona - the club jamboree is a small place, but a really cool spot with good music...right next to the kabul house hostel...also ask around to have someone point you to an indian/paki restaurant called kashmir...great food...other than that i think the lonely planets will serve you very well...have fun and stay away from the Basques