An accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday put off the indictment of PPP Co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari in a NAB reference, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The court adjourned the hearing of Thatta Water Supply illegal contracts reference and fake accounts case and deferred the matter of indicting Asif Zardari till August 7.

The indictment was deferred on the unavailability of Zardari's counsel Farooq H Naek and the hearing was adjourned without any proceedings.

Assistant Advocate to Farooq H Naek pleaded the court that Asif Zardari should not be indicted in the reference until the court announces the verdict on a petition seeking to set aside the reference. He told the court that Farooq H Naek was busy in Karachi and time should be given to him. He informed Judge Muhammad Azam Khan that Farooq H Naik was busy in a Senate Committee meeting on Kashmir.

The court granted a leave of absence to both Asif Zardari and his lawyer from Tuesday’s hearing.

Earlier, the accountability court of Islamabad directed Asif Zardari to appear before it on August 4 in connection with the Thatta Water Supply reference.

It is pertinent to note that other accused in the Thatta Water Supply case include Nadeem Bhutto and Abdul Ghani Majeed.

Asif Zardari is also facing another reference relating to a luxury vehicle he received from Toshakhana of the federal government. Former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani are other accused in this case.