The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the demolition of Monal Restaurant in Islamabad’s National Park, with the Wildlife Board set to take control on September 11. Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa issued a detailed 25-page judgment, upholding a previous decision by former Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minullah.
The judgment emphasizes that, according to Articles 9 and 14, the right to life extends to all living creatures, including birds and animals. The court has directed the Wildlife Board to take over not only Monal but also other establishments like Lamontana and Gloria Jeans within the park.
Read more: Islamabad’s Famous Restaurant Monal Closes its Doors Permanently
The court has instructed that the demolition should be carried out in a manner that does not disturb the wildlife. It also ordered the removal of encroachments and the blocking of roads leading to the restaurants with barriers, with support from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the police.
Additionally, the Supreme Court suggested seeking expert advice on how to use the cleared site, including the possibility of creating an artificial lake, to ensure the area is repurposed in an environmentally sensitive manner.
