Qasim Jamshed
Islamabad: Thousands of employees who became jobless after the closure of Monal and La Montana restaurants have accused the Chairperson of the Wildlife Board of adopting a double standard regarding Margalla National Park. They claim that while 113 restaurants and commercial establishments are operating within the park, only two restaurants were targeted and demolished, which they believe to be an act of personal vendetta. Meanwhile, after the demolition of Monal and La Montana, a large restaurant in Daman-e-Koh has been granted a license to operate within the Margalla National Park, while the Chairperson of the Wildlife Board has refused to meet with the employees who lost their jobs.
The former employees further stated that the closure of Monal and La Montana restaurants has not only left thousands of workers unemployed but has also turned the area into a hub of criminal activities. They demanded that licenses for setting up kiosks on the land adjacent to Monal and La Montana be issued to all affected employees. They warned that if their demands were not met, they would stage a protest outside the National Press Club in Islamabad.
These sentiments were expressed by representatives of the thousands of former employees of Monal and La Montana, as well as individuals from areas such as Talhar, Gokina, Pir Sohawa, Sanghra, Kharian, Makhniyal, and Uryala, during a large protest gathering held at the site of Monal. Among the speakers were Raja Shakeel Zaman, Muhammad Saeed Abbasi, Zameer Ahmed Qureshi, and others.
The protesters further alleged that, on the directives of the Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Board, not only were Monal and La Montana restaurants shut down, but the government-built structures of these restaurants were also demolished. They accused the authorities of selectively targeting these two restaurants while allowing over 100 establishments, including restaurants in Shah Allah Ditta, Saidpur, Shakarparian, and Club Road, to continue operations unchecked.
They emphasized that if this is not a double standard, then what is? The protestors also highlighted that establishments like Islamabad Club, Riding Club, Polo Club, and Gun Club, which operate within Margalla National Park, remain unaffected by these laws.
They noted that the closure of Monal and La Montana not only rendered thousands of employees jobless but also turned the area into a hub for criminal activities. In the past four months alone, three murders and multiple robberies have occurred in the area.
The affected workers demanded that families rendered jobless be granted licenses to set up kiosks on the land adjacent to Monal and La Montana, enabling them to earn a lawful livelihood for their children. They warned that if their demands were not met, they would be forced to hold a sit-in protest outside the National Press Club in Islamabad, and the Chairperson of the Wildlife Board would be held responsible for any consequences.
