Gilani: owning responsibility

E-Paper | June 12, 2026

THIS is apropos of the Supreme Court’s decision on disqualification of Yousuf Raza Gilani as the premier. Leadership requires owning and taking responsibility of one’s decisions.

You may ask opinion and advice of your subordinates or experts, but the final decision is yours. One should never blame them for the consequences, adverse or otherwise.

This was the main excuse offered by the advocate and the attorney general on behalf of Gilani for not writing a letter to the Swiss courts.

Secondly, the experts must be honest and objective in giving their opinion or advice, instead of being influenced by party politics and their own or their client’s interest.

This may affect their credibility and damage their reputation as was evident in this case.

Thirdly, those who hold such high offices must be ready to offer the highest sacrifice to uphold the sanctity of their offices.

It is better to leave with grace, when one’s integrity is under a cloud rather than to be removed unceremoniously from office.

And lastly, decisions made by our courts should be clear and unambiguous so that little doubt is left for their smooth implementation.

CAPT (Rtd) MUNIR AHMED Karachi

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Newspaper

Palestine issue is a matter of principle

Yusuf Gilani said that he could not obey the Supreme Court orders, because that was violation of the constitution. New prime minister is saying that he will not write the letter to Swiss authorities, because the president has immunity. This is like a joke. Do these people know more about the constitution than the Supereme Court? If they think so, why don't they ask the Supreme Court to give a ruling on these points? They don't do that because the ruling will be against them. They are just making these statements under orders of Zardari and for public consumption.

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R.Jabbar

Jul 01, 2012 06:49pm

Entirely agree with the points mentioned in the letter. They say leadership is an art, which leaders need to learn. It is unfortunate that our leaders remain focused on their own interest and care little about the basic principles of good leadership. They forget the people who elect them, have no care for the development of the country, and are least bothered about the welfare of those who bring them to power.

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Syed Ahmed

Jul 01, 2012 04:21pm

Very well written.

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