An accountability court Monday deferred the indictment of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz in a case related to illegal appointments until January 5, reported 34NewsHD TV channel.

The indictment was deferred as the co-accused have filed an acquittal plea in the case after the promulgation of the NAB amendment ordinance.

Defense lawyer in his arguments before the court stated that the acquittal plea is currently under trial in the high court. "The NAB has sought time in the HC and the court will take up the case on January 17," he added.

The lawyer of the accused pleaded with the accountability court to defer the indictment until the judgment of the HC. However, the court rejecting the plea deferred the indictment until January 5.

NAB had filed a reference against Shaukat Aziz, who served as Pakistan's prime minister from 2004 to 2007 - over misuse of powers during his tenure as prime minister.

NAB contends that he had illegally appointed Mr Basharat Hasan Bashir as a consultant for the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) on Management Position-II (MP-II) pay scale. The accountability watchdog maintains that the appointment of Bashir violated MP scale policy guidelines and the board's regulations.