Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the closure of all restaurants in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHPN), including the Monal restaurant in Islamabad.
The order was in response to a March 11 court order seeking complete records of the restaurant’s ownership.
A three-judge bench of the high court headed by Chief Justice Kazi Faez Jesus heard the pleas filed by Monal restaurant on Margalla Hill as well as the wildlife department.
On March 8, the apex court ordered the restaurant to be sealed after staying the order of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The court asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to provide the original records of 8.6 thousand hectares of MHPN land.
The additional Attorney General informed the court that the Military Estates Service owned the site.
However, the Chief Justice said there is no ownership of the military; the land belongs to the Government of Pakistan. He said a simple question related to CDA or others.
CJP Isa said the court is seeking details of Monal and other restaurants from the CDA.
At the time, CDA lawyers said they had submitted a report containing details of all constructions in the Margalla Hills National Park.
The CJP said that Sports Club, Pak-China Friendship Center and National Arts Council Memorial were also included in the CDA report.
“Is this the integrity of the CDA?
The lawyer said he would have to look at the map to answer that question.
“Apart from CDA, the world knows how many restaurants there are besides Monal,” said CJP Isa, asking if the CDA office was also in the national park.
The CDA chief asked how many times Margalla hill caught fire this season, 21 times.
The Supreme Court also ordered all other restaurants in the National Park to move out with Monal within three months.
The court stated in its statement that its purpose was to ensure the protection of the National Park. He also said that the unnecessary notice issued to all restaurants except National Park has been cancelled.
The court said it only focused on national parks. “All leases granted to restaurants located in national parks are declared null and void,” the court said.
CJP Isa ordered suspension of all commercial activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa National Park.
The High Court said it would issue a written order to Monal Restaurant later.
