ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The Supreme Court upheld its earlier decision to close Monal restaurant by rejecting petitions that sought to overturn the June 11, 2024 ruling. This ruling declared all leases and allotments within Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) as invalid.
The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and including Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Naeem Akhtar Afghan, reviewed petitions from the Monal Group of Companies, Capital View Point Restaurant (La Montana), Sunshine Heights (Pvt) Ltd, and Brigadier (retired) Falak Naz Bangash of the defense ministry.
The Court, which had reserved its decision on September 6, confirmed its earlier verdict today. It reiterated its order for the closure of Monal restaurant, Sunshine Heights, and La Montana restaurant.
In its March 21 judgment, the Supreme Court had directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to compile a list of leases within MHNP. Notices were subsequently issued to the petitioners on April 22, 2024, and the June 11 order reaffirmed that these leases were in violation of the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance of 1979.
