On Thursday, the Supreme Court gave a detailed ruling about the Margalla Hills restaurants. It ordered that the restaurants be demolished and handed over to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board. According to Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s 25-page order, the Wildlife Board will take control of the restaurants on September 11, 2024, with help from the CDA and local police, and the area will be blocked off.
The court’s detailed verdict follows its earlier June 11 decision to shut down Monal Restaurant and other eateries in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). This decision came from a three-judge bench, including the Chief Justice, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan. They acted in response to a March 11 order that required the restaurant to provide complete records of its land ownership. The court also instructed all restaurants in the park, including Monal, to relocate within three months.
The Supreme Court said its goal is to protect the National Park. It also canceled all notices issued to restaurants outside the park. The court emphasized that only the leases for restaurants inside the National Park are invalid. In his detailed judgment, Chief Justice Isa confirmed the Islamabad High Court’s earlier ruling by Judge Athar Minallah. He ordered that the restaurants in the park be demolished carefully, minimizing harm to wildlife and trees.
The Supreme Court’s order states that the Wildlife Board will decide how to best use the mountain ridge where the restaurants were. They might consult experts to decide whether to remove the foundations of the buildings or use them to create an artificial lake for collecting rainwater to help fight fires in the park.
The court emphasized that the area should not be left abandoned or with debris. It must be restored so it becomes a useful part of the National Park again. The court has directed the defense secretary to enforce existing laws and asked the CDA chairman to guide the ministry in this matter. The Ministry of Climate Change secretary and Environmental Protection director general have been instructed to survey the buildings in the area and assess any environmental damage and necessary measures to prevent further harm.
