Close all restaurants in National Park including Monal: SC

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the closure of all restaurants in the National Park of Islamabad, including Monal.

In a case regarding the conservation of the National Park, Supreme Court ordered that all restaurants should be completely closed in three months. It was further instructed that the the affected restaurants should be prioritised if the lease is available elsewhere because commercial activities cannot be allowed in the National Park.

On the other hand, Monal Restaurant voluntarily assured the court that it would move the restaurant in three months.

Today’s hearing

During the hearing of the case Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa instructed that if the restaurant does not move voluntarily, then the Court will order to seal it. The Monal restaurant’s lawyer asked for four months time but the chief justice limited it to three months.

The Court also canceled all the leases given to the restaurants located in the National Park. Additionally, the Chief Justice remarked that commercial activities should be stopped in the National Park areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

When the hearing of the case began, Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa expressed anger at the CDA for submitting a morphed report to the court. He remarked that the senior officers of the CDA will have to take English classes.

While the CDA lawyer defended the report, including Sports Club Pak China Centre, the Chief Justice reprimanded him as he questioned their honesty because the court had asked them to submit a report about restaurants in the area. “CDA has also included the name of Arts Council, National Monument. Can we order the demolition of a National Monument and Sports Complex? Is this the honesty of CDA?” said the court.

The Chief Justice asked if the Supreme Court’s building also falls in the National Park, to which the CDA lawyer replied that he would have to see the map to answer that question.

The Chief Justice said that the world knows how many more restaurants there are with Monal.

“If CDA has its own office in the National Park, then order the demolition of CDA’s office as well,” the court remarked.