In a ruling on June 11, the Supreme Court ordered the closure of all restaurants and eateries, including the famous Monal Restaurant operating in Margalla Hills National Park. 

In March, the court sought details regarding all restaurants within the National Park. In the recent ruling, the Supreme Court stressed that all restaurants in the national park must be removed within three months. The court highlighted that if a lease was required anywhere outside the national park, priority should be given to the affected restaurants and that commercial activities cannot be allowed in the park. 

This decision is aimed at preserving the national park for the benefit of the public. The ruling was delivered by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, with Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, on Tuesday. The court dismissed Monal Restaurant’s appeal against the Islamabad High Court's order and rejected reports submitted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Remount Veterinary Farm (RVF).

Previously, the court had requested complete records from the CDA and RVF regarding the land ownership and lease details of Monal Restaurant within the Margalla Hills. Advocate Salman Ikram Raja, representing Monal Restaurant, informed the court that RVF is a project related to Pakistan Army farms under the Defence Division. The court upheld the Islamabad High Court’s verdict, declaring all leases granted to restaurants within the National Park null and void. It directed the Wildlife Department to refund any lease deposits made by these restaurants and utilize them for the park's preservation.

The court expects the Capital Development Authority and the Wildlife Board, under the federal government's guidance, to collaborate on protecting the National Park. The CDA may appoint its member (environment) for this purpose. The court emphasized that its focus is solely on the National Park, terminating unnecessary notices issued to other restaurants. It also ordered the cessation of commercial activities in the National Park area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Monal Restaurant’s management agreed to voluntarily relocate within three months but requested an extension to six months. The court rejected this request, stating that failure to comply would result in the restaurant’s demolition. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa underscored the importance of preserving the National Park and warned that failure to relocate businesses would lead to drastic measures.

Luqman Afzal, Monal Restaurant’s owner, expressed concern over the economic impact and foreign perceptions if his business was affected. However, the court reiterated the necessity of compliance with its orders for preserving the National Park.