Two restaurants atop Margalla Hills, Islamabad, which were previously functioning within the designated national park region, have been put under the jurisdiction of wildlife officials as a result of a recent order by the Supreme Court.
After the district administration of Islamabad sealed the facilities in accordance with the order of the court, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board has confirmed that they have now taken custody of the Monal and LaMontana restaurants.
According to a spokeswoman for the IWMB, wildlife has started to recover the region despite the fact that human activity has diminished, which has resulted in the creation of a natural habitat for a variety of species.
“The future course of action for the restaurants and surrounding areas will be determined in consultation with relevant organizations,” according to the official spokesperson.
You may also be interested in reading: Supreme Court upholds closure of Monal and other restaurants in Islamabad
A decision to close Monal Restaurant, La Montana, and other facilities that were functioning in the National Park region of Islamabad was upheld by the Supreme Court on September 10, which dismissed the review petitions and retained its earlier ruling.
The judge said that the eateries had previously given voluntary guarantees that they will cease their activities within three months. The court indicated that this was the basis for its decision. Following the provision of these guarantees, the court expressed its severe disapproval of the filing of revision petitions, describing it as a “contemptible” act and a “joke with the court.”
You may also be interested in reading: Supreme Court orders closure of Monal and other restaurants in Margalla National Park in Islamabad
It was directed by the Supreme Court that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) give priority to these establishments when it comes to leases at alternative locations. The Supreme Court revoked its earlier observations, which had been in favor of the eateries. On the other hand, the court decided to withdraw its concerns regarding the possibility of granting priority to these eateries in future lease processes.
During the lease negotiations for restaurants located in other areas, the court ruled that the eateries located in the National Park region should be given priority. As an additional point of interest, it was mentioned that submitting a review plea in spite of guarantees made in court is a joke with the court and disrespectful.
According to the decision of the court, the decision to close the eateries in the region surrounding the National Park shall be put into effect without any delay. It was told to the CDA that they should make it possible for these establishments to relocate to other regions as quickly as possible; nevertheless, there would be no preference given to any particular establishments.
