The Auditor General is a true patriot

Our Independence Day is rapidly approaching. This time of the year often sees much flag-waving and professions of loyalty to the nation.

This year, a true patriot has stood out. Auditor General Ibrahim Naeem has been relentlessly exposing corruption and waste in his hard-hitting audit reports. Through his actions people have learnt of the excesses of the former regime. Through his actions the current government has been reminded that they are entrusted with a great responsibility and that they should take great care when spending the public’s money- or risk being exposed!

The opposition has been trying to discredit the auditor general by attacking his character and glossing over the facts in his reports. On Thursday he came out fighting.

His press conference on Thursday was a tour de force. Quoting from his reports (and at times from the Quran), he launched a merciless attack on the corrupt regime that was toppled last October. He described their acts as nothing short of “organized crime”.

Staying quiet and sweeping evidence of crimes under the carpet are not actions that would be taken by those who love the nation. In fact, those who are trying to bring down the auditor general in order to put a lid on or discredit his findings are being positively traitorous.

It is time that the police and prosecutor general take the findings in the audit reports seriously and bring the guilty to book.