ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) ordered the closure of Monal Restaurant and all other eateries operating within the Margalla Hills National Park in Islamabad.
The decision was rendered by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, which categorically rejected the report submitted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The court decreed that all restaurants must cease operations within 90 days, emphasizing that commercial activities are impermissible within the boundaries of the national park.
The Supreme Court’s judgment highlighted the necessity of upholding environmental laws, stressing that the Margalla Hills National Park cannot be exploited for commercial purposes.
The court also suggested that the affected restaurants might be considered for land leasing opportunities outside the park’s premises.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Isa criticized the CDA for its alleged lack of transparency and thoroughness in the submitted report. The report mentioned additional facilities such as the Sports Club, Pak-China Friendship Centre, and the Arts Council National Monument, raising questions about the CDA’s oversight capabilities.
“Does the Supreme Court building also lie in the Margalla National Park? Does the CDA office also lie in the same park?” questioned Justice Isa, implying that if such structures were indeed within the park, the CDA should consider their demolition as well. He pointed out the incongruity in the CDA’s report and expressed disbelief at the authority’s apparent ignorance of the number of restaurants within the park.
In a previous hearing on March 8, the Supreme Court had ordered the de-sealing of Monal Restaurant, temporarily suspending the Islamabad High Court’s earlier verdict. The apex court had also requested detailed records regarding the ownership of the 8,600 acres of land constituting the Margalla Hills National Park.
The additional attorney general had indicated that the Military Estate Office claimed ownership of the land. However, Chief Justice Isa refuted this, asserting that the land belongs to the government of Pakistan, and demanded clarity on whether the CDA or another entity held ownership.
The CDA chairman, summoned during the hearing, acknowledged that the Margalla Hills had experienced 21 fires this season alone, further underscoring the environmental risks posed by unauthorized activities within the park.
The Supreme Court underscored that its primary objective is the protection of the Margalla Hills National Park, and declared all leases granted to restaurants within the park as null and void. Additionally, the court ordered the cessation of all commercial activities within national parks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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