ISLAMABAD, July 21: A nine-member bench of the Supreme Court will commence on Monday the hearing of a reference filed by President Pervez Musharraf against the Hasba bill under advisory jurisdiction of the court. Headed by Chief Justice, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, the bench comprises Justices Javed Iqbal, Hamid Ali Mirza, Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan, Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, Mian Shakirullah Jan, M. Javed Buttar and Saiyed Saeed Ashhad.

Earlier in Karachi, a five-member bench of the court served notices on the NWFP government and the advocates-general of the four provinces to appear before the court on July 25.

A panel of lawyers, including Khizer Hayat Abbasi and Safir Ahmed, are likely to represent the NWFP government to defend the Hasba bill adopted by the NWFP Assembly on July 14.

Moved on behalf of the president by Attorney-General Makhdoom Ali Khan under article 186 of the constitution, the reference seeks the opinion of the apex court by raising seven questions relating to validity of the Hasba bill.

Meanwhile, Awami Himayat Tehrik Chairman Maulvi Iqbal Haider has moved an application before the court, requesting it to hear his petition against Hasba bill along with the reference.

The applicant has asked the court to direct the governor not to give assent to the Hasba bill.

In the six page petition moved under Supreme Court Rules 1980, the mover also seeks a declaration that the proposed law is against Holy Quran, Sunnat, the constitution and the spirit of the nation.