The Appellate Division of the Mprcme Court yesterday named c iyjit k-ading legal experts to be tieard in the reference made by the President regarding the continued absence of the MPs and the vacation of seats.

Tlx- full bench chaired by Chief Justice ATM Afzal also fixed July 16 as the date of bearing which would continue without adjournment

The Court decided to notify the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association. Dr Kamal Hossain. Barrister Ishtiaq Ahmed, Barrister Rafiqul Huq. Khandaker Mahbub t ddin Ahmed and S R Pal to give their views on the points mentioned in the reference.

Barrister Asrarul Hossain, who has been appointed by the Government specially for this case and Attorney General Aminul Huq would also be ix-ird by the court

President Alxiur Rahman Biswas made tlx- reference on Tuesday asking tor interpretation on four points relating to the vacation of seats of the MPs continuously boycotting the parliament sessions for over 90 days.

The first ever Presidential reference to tlx- Supreme Court came after more than 140 opposition MPs of this Fifth Parliament crossed the 90-day constitutional limit on absence on June 19. Earlier. Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia advised the President to make such reference.

Appearing before the court yesterday. Attorney-General Aminul Huq said that the government had appointed Barrister Asrarul Hossain to this special case. The AG. who was notified on W ednesday to appear before the court for directions, also expressed Ms opinion about dx procedure of the reference case.

A group of curious people and

reporters from different Dhaka dailies thronged the court in the morning to witness the procedure of first ever reference case of ftic country.

After brief hearing, the Chief Justice said that court is not the place to settle political disputes and is not interested to hear the parties. The court would do nothing about the Parliament and w ould just examine the legal aspects relating to continued boycott of the lawmakers, referred to by the President

At this stage. Barrister Hossain said it is the discretion of the court to hear or not to hear any party.

Determining the procedure, the Chief Justice said the court would accord the higliest priority Io expeditiously settle the matter.

I he full bench of the Appellate Division comprises five judges (leaded by the Chief lustier, the four other members of the bench are: Justice Mostafa Kamal, Justice latifur Rahman. Justice Muhammad Abdur Rouf and Justice Isniailuddin Marker

The four points referred by the President are: 1) Can the walkout and the consequent period of noon turn by all the opposition parties taking exception to a remark of a ruling party minister be construed as absent' from Parliament without leave of Parliament occurring in Article 67 (1) (b) of the Constitution resulting in vacation of their seats in parliament?

2) "Does boycott of the Parliament by all members of tl*e opposition parties mean absent from Parliament without leave of parliament within the meaning of Article 67 < 111 b) of the Constitution resulting in vacating of their seats in Pariiamert?

I > 'Whether ninety coasecutive sitting days be computed excluding or including the period between two sessions intervened by prorogation of tlx- Parliament within the meaning of Article 67 (1) (b) read with the definition of sessions and sitting' defined under Article 152 (1) of the Constitution?

4) "Whether the Speaker or Parliament will compute and determine the period of absence?"