Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has granted a pardon and remitted two prison terms given to close aide and Interior Minister Rehman Malik, hours after a court dismissed the minister's appeal against his conviction in two corruption cases.<br/><br/>Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that Using his constitutional powers, Zardari remitted the prison terms handed down to Malik. The pardon was granted under Article 45 of the constitution on the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani which was tendered late on Monday night.<br/><br/> The development occurred late last night. Malik, a close confidant of the President, is out of the country and there were earlier reports that he might not return to Pakistan till the matter of the prison<br/><br/>sentence was settled.<br/>