Margalla Hills eateries to be demolished, taken over by Wildlife Board: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued its detailed verdict in the Margalla Hills restaurant case directing the authorities to demolish the eateries which are to be taken over by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board.

The 25-page order written by  Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa says: "On 11 September 2024, the Wildlife Board will take over the possession of the said restaurants with the full assistance of CDA and the Islamabad Capital Territory Police, and the entrances to said area shall be barricaded."

The detailed verdict follows the court's June 11 ruling wherein it had directed the closure of Monal Restaurant along with other eateries located in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHPN).

The order of the three-member bench, comprising the CJP, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, came in response to in response to a March 11 court order in which it had sought the complete record of the land ownership of the restaurant.

The court had then also directed all other restaurants in the National Park including Monal to relocate within the three-month period.

In its remarks, the SC said that its aim is to ensure the protection of the National Park. It added that apart from National Park, the unnecessary notices issued to all other restaurants are terminated.

Stressing that it was only focusing on the National Park, the court said: "All the leases granted to restaurants located in National Park are declared null and void."

In his detailed judgement today which upheld the Islamabad High Court's then-judge Athar Minallah's ruling, CJP Isa said that the restaurants were to be demolished with minimal disturbance to the wildlife and by avoiding damage to the trees of the National Park.

The top court's order also states that the Wildlife Board will determine how best to utilise the mountain ridge where the eateries were located and it may consult experts and environmentalists to examine whether the foundations of the said structures should also be removed or the same be left in and used to make an artificial lake to collect rainwater which can be used to put out fires that erupt in the National Park.

"Under no circumstances should the building be left abandoned/derelict nor leave any debris on the said site. Every effort should be made to ensure that the said land again becomes an integral part of the National Park," said the verdict.

Furthermore, directing the defence secretary to ensure the enforcement of existing laws, the SC has also ordered the CDA chairman to provide guidance to the ministry in this regard.

Additionally, the Ministry of Climate Change secretary and Environmental Protection director general have been ordered to conduct a survey of buildings in the area.

The order also calls for an assessment of environmental damage and measures that are necessary to prevent further environmental degradation.