ISLAMABAD: An accountability court exempted former president Asif Ali Zardari from appearing in the hearing on Tuesday over corruption cases against him and adjourned the next hearing until December 9, DawnNews reported.

The bench hearing the case, comprising of Justice Mohammad Bashir, also instructed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) again to provide Zardari's counsel with copies of the references filed against him.

During the hearing, Advocate Farooq H. Naek assured the bench that the former president would appear in court for the next hearing of the case.

The court granted exemption to the former president from attending today's hearing as he was out of the country, and again issued a notice summoning Mr Zardari to attend the next hearing of the case.

The references against the former president include SGS, Cotecna, ARY, polo ground and Ursus tractors.