A sweeping Supreme Court decision that reopened corruption cases against thousands of politicians, including President Asif Ali Zardari, reverberated through the government on Friday as important ministers were barred from leaving the country and ordered to appear before the courts in the coming weeks. Among those immediately affected were the interior minister, Rehman Malik, who is considered particularly close to the United States, and the defense minister, Ahmad Mukhtar, raising concerns about how effectively the Zardari government, under pressure from a violent Islamic insurgency, could continue to function. The two men were among 247 officials, also including Salman Farooqi, the chief of staff to Zardari, placed on what is known as an exit control list. It bars them from leaving Pakistan, a measure Pakistani authorities often use to ensure that those under criminal investigation do not abscond. At least 52 politicians were called to appear before corruption courts, according to the National Accountability Bureau, the anti-corruption unit that was ordered by the Supreme Court on Wednesday to act expeditiously in reopening the cases. By the end of the day on Friday, Farooqi had won an interim bail order from the Sindh High Court, a measure that would prevent him from being arrested, legal experts said. Malik had also been ordered to appear before the Sindh High Court, according to a report on Pakistan's Express News television channel. Attempts to reach a spokesman for Malik were unsuccessful. Zardari has immunity from prosecution under the constitution. He remained defiant on Friday against calls from the main opposition party that he step down. Moreover, he has no intention of asking Cabinet ministers or colleagues facing corruption charges to quit, a media adviser, Farahnaz Ispahani, said Friday. 'The president is fighting fit,' Ispahani said. 'The president was clear that our Pakistan Peoples Party ministers would not be asked to resign merely on the basis of accusation.' A Cabinet reshuffle in which 'some people will be out and some will be moved' will be the main response to the revocation of the amnesty by the Supreme Court, Ispahani said. 