NEWS & VIEWS - WINTER 2007 - 2008
Alumnus gives update from Islamabad, Pakistan
 |
| Sufi shrine in Multan |
"I have been meaning to write an update on my recent travels for a number of months and haven't found the mental space to do it. Oddly, it strikes me that now might be a good time as I sit in Islamabad during the state of emergency that was called by President Musharraf about two weeks ago."
So begins a recent e-mail update from Humphrey Institute alumnus Steven Gray (MA '85) who has been living and working in Islamabad, Pakistan, for IFES. Formerly called the International Foundation for Election Systems, IFES is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides countries with the technical advice and tools they need to run democratic elections.
 |
Walking to work in
Islamabad |
Gray is the team leader of a group monitoring and evaluating the training of polling officials. This includes presiding officers, who are in charge of Pakistan's 70,000 polling stations, and returning officers, who are charged at the district level with certifying the results of the polling stations and compiling the vote count.
 |
Looking down at
constitution avenue |
Gray describes Pakistan as interesting and very complex. He remains optimistic about the country's future and his team's efforts to engage in "meaningful reform of a tired bureaucracy." He goes on to offer an insider's view on the global news story developing in Pakistan.
 |
| Streets of DG Khan |
"I know that many of you are concerned about the danger of the situation here. I can only say that it doesn't feel too dangerous here unless you are a lawyer, judge, political activist, or someone with a conscience," says Gray. "I am getting 'danger pay' which helps-considering how low the U.S. dollar has gone, and we have regular security briefings and have just completed an evacuation planning session.
 |
| Family on a cycle |
"We feel the best security is keeping a low profile. We don't have any signs on our cars or on our office. I live in a guest house a few blocks away from our office instead of a flashy international hotel. I have a cell phone and a satellite phone in case the cell network gets disrupted. I realize that the news coming out of here is cause for concern, though the country is functioning normally. Normal might be a relative concept since the military has been in charge a lot throughout the history here. It doesn't feel much different than before the state of emergency," says Gray.
 |
The scrum at the bead
counter in Bahawalpur bazaar |
"The challenge for Gray's team is to improve the training process for polling officials. This year, people are being trained in small groups of 25 to 35 people, while previously they were briefed in large groups with no hands-on training. Creating change and new processes has been difficult and the job has many frustrations. Yet, the people he works with keep him inspired.
 |
| IFES PO training monitors |
"There are a ton of talented and interesting people here. I continue to be impressed by the Pakistani people I meet. There are millions of people who are interested in reform, improvement, and change, and it is these people that motivate me and make me feel like we are on the right track," says Gray.
Since Gray sent his e-mail, Musharraf was sworn in to a third presidential term, but as a civilian and not as the country's military leader, ending eight years of military rule in Pakistan. To learn more about IFES, visit www.ifes.org.
