Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has sacked Interior Minister Rehman Malik's key aide,who benefited from a controversial graft amnesty that was struck down by the Supreme Court last year. Sajjad Haider,the staff officer of the Interior Minister,was removed from his post on Sunday in line with the apex court's order to dismiss persons who benefited from the National Reconciliation Ordinance from public offices. There was no official word on the development though sources confirmed that the premier had sacked Haider,who is very close to Malik. Haider and Malik were both among the accused in several graft cases that were closed after former President Pervez Musharraf promulgated the NRO in late 2007. Since it annulled the NRO last year,the apex court has been pressuring the government to take action against over 8,000 people,including President Asif Ali Zardari,who benefited from the graft amnesty. The government has so far taken action against only a handful of junior bureaucrats and officials and given no indication it will against others like Malik and Law Minister Babar Awan. It has also ruled out action against Zardari,saying the President enjoys immunity from prosecution. Haider was restored in his government job in 2008 because of his links in the ruling Pakistan People's Party. The Prime Minister recently asked the Establishment Division to compile a list of people who benefited from the NRO and are currently holding public offices. Sources said the list includes over 70 such people working in ministries and federal departments.
