KARACHI At least 83 corruption cases registered against 200 persons including Interior Minster Rehman Malik, Salman Farooqi, Sindh Minister Agha Siraj Durani, and other former bureaucrats and politicians have been withdrawn under the cover of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in Sindh. Moreover, a large number of the 3576 criminal cases registered against MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, Dr Farooq Sattar, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, and others were also withdrawn, invoking the NRO. A list of the cases and the names of accused persons who benefited from the NRO provision in Sindh, has been sent to the federal government which has already announced to unveil the list of the persons whose cases have been withdrawn. A Sindh government official privy to the matter said that the majority of the beneficiaries include former bureaucrats and government officials. Meanwhile, some of such bureaucrats continue to hold higher posts in the federal government while some are serving in the foreign service. Official sources said that a total 83 of corruption cases pending in five Accountability Courts in Sindh-Karachi against 200 persons including politicians and former bureaucrats were withdrawn under NRO. According to details, 43 corruption cases were withdrawn from Accountability Court (AC)-1, 22 from AC-2, 17 from AC-4 and one from AC-5. The sources concerned confirmed that a small number of politicians benefited from NRO while the majority of such persons included former government officials, autonomous bodies chiefs and banks heads. However, Sindh Minister for Local Government Department Agha Siraj Durani who falls in the category of politicians who benefited from NRO. The corruption case against him pending in Accountability Court has been withdrawn. Mr Durani is considered as the close aide of President Asif Ali Zardari. After 2008 general elections, he was expecting to grab the slot of Sindh Chief Minister, but his name was dropped due to untold reasons. Similarly, the name of Interior Minister Rehman Malik forms part of the list of the persons whose corruption cases have been withdrawn. A corruption case was pending in Accountability Court Karachi against Mr Malik in his capacity as former Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Others who benefited from NRO are: former President National Bank of Pakistan MB Abbasi, currently serving as Pak Ambassador in Iran, former bureaucrat Salman Farooqi, currently serving Principal Staff officer of President of Pakistan, Siraj Shamsul Hassan, a businessman Chaudhry Sharif, former bank president Younas Dalmia, former Vice-President of Habib Bank, Pir Didar Jan Sarhandi, former Secretary Board of Revenue of Sindh government, Ghulam Abbas Soomor and former official of Board of Revenue of Sindh Ramesh Odesi. MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, MQM Parliamentary leader in National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar and other party workers are some of the beneficiaries. The cases registered against them were withdrawn. A NRO committee headed by Justice (r) Ghous Muhammad and including former Advocate General Of Sindh Khawaja Naveed and Law Secretary Ghulam Nabi Shah had reviewed the criminal cases which were pending in courts against MQM leaders and workers of other political parties. After a thorough review, the committee sent its recommendations to the then Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim for withdrawal of 3576 criminal cases under NRO. According to the sources, at least 95 per cent of the total criminal cases pertained to MQM leaders and workers. Such persons were nominated in the FIRs registered for torching vehicles during strike calls in the City.