SC orders closure of eateries in MHNP

Allows restaurants three months to relocate to protect the national park’s ecological integrity

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Tuesday ordered the closure of all the eateries in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), including the famous Monal Restaurant, in Islamabad.

At the onset of the hearing, Monal Restaurant voluntarily agreed to relocate the restaurant in three months. The court order stated that all other restaurants established in the MHNP area should also be relocated within three months else the Capital Development Authority (CDA) would take action.

A three-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, heard the petitions filed by Monal Restaurant, established in the Margalla Hills, as well as the Wildlife Department. During the hearing, the CJP told the counsel for Monal Restaurant: “We are giving three months time. Our aim is to ensure the protection of the National Park.”

The court also directed the CDA to cancel the unnecessary notices issued to all restaurants other than the National Park. “The focus of our case is only on the extent of the National Park. All the restaurants located on National Park, Pir Suhawa Road should be shifted within three months.” The court also declared null and void all the leases granted to the restaurants established in the National Park.

During the hearing, Luqman Afzal Khan, the owner of Monal Restaurant, said: “This decision will not leave a positive impression in the business community of Pakistan. People will say this is how investors are treated in Pakistan.”

The CJP retorted that “we have to ensure the protection of the National Park by looking at the Constitution and law. Look around the world, there is no restaurant in a national park anywhere.”

Earlier, the three-member bench rejected the report submitted by CDA as unsatisfactory. The court also directed the CDA chairman to appear immediately. When the CDA chairman appeared in the court, the CJP inquired how many times fires broke out in the mountains of Margalla.

The CDA chairman replied that there have been 21 fires in Margalla Hills this season. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel remarked that last night there a fire kept raging in the mountains of Margalla. The court also expressed its displeasure at not presenting complete facts and declared that a written order would be issued in the case.

WWF lauds SC’s efforts

The WWF-Pakistan has lauded the efforts of the SC for closing down all the eateries, including Monal Restaurant, within MHNP premises in Islamabad in the next three months.

Commenting on the decision, Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, said he deeply appreciated the honourable judges who took a keen interest in the case and supported the conservation of the wildlife and natural resources of the park. “This decision will benefit the long-term efforts and contributions towards nature conservation initiatives in Pakistan,” he added.

The decision signifies a crucial step towards the sustainable management and protection of Pakistan’s natural resources.