During Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani's recent visit to Washington, he was observed to be having difficulty in expressing himself properly in English. He also seemed ill prepared for questions asked at a meeting of a US think-tank. Why didn't he speak in Urdu instead, or better still in Seraiki, his mother language? Many world leaders, while on a visit to other countries, speak in their native languages and do so proudly. There is never any problem of communication because competent interpreters are at hand to transcribe them into English, or whatever the local language of the host country be. Why do our leaders have this complex that they must speak in English, and none other, whenever they are on a visit to a foreign country? Many of our leaders, particularly those from the feudal class who have been educated in elite institutions of the country, are proficient in English language. But some are not. That's nothing to be ashamed of. -ENGR S.T. HUSSAIN, Lahore Cantt., via e-mail, August 6.