The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued a detailed judgment regarding the construction in Margalla Hills National Park and declared the construction of the Navy Golf Course illegal. The IHC held that the Pakistan Army has no power nor jurisdiction to, directly or indirectly, engage in business ventures of any nature outside its composition nor to claim the ownership of state land.
The Supreme Court has ordered the de-sealing of Islamabad’s Monal Restaurant, suspending the January 11 Islamabad High Court. The IHC ordered sealing and taking over possession of the Monal restaurant built on encroached land situated in the picturesque Margalla Hills. The court had also declared the military’s claim to 8,000 acres of Margalla Hills National Park illegal.
After being sealed for a considerable time, Monal Restaurant might now be turned into a Wildlife Educational Centre. The Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has prepared a proposal to establish this centre in order to raise awareness about protection and preservation of Margalla Hills National Park. The climate change ministry has lauded the decision to seal off Monal Restaurant and is likely to support the proposal for establishment of this centre.
The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) on Tuesday linked the increase in population of leopards dwelling in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) to “plenty of game”. Apart from leopards, there is a significant wild boar and monkey population along with barking deer. This also why no case of attacks on livestock has been reported there.
Supreme Court ordered to stop all illegal constructions on Margalla Hills immediately, while hearing a case on the protection of Margalla Hills. A restaurant, Monal has cut down 200 trees for illegal expansion, the CDA chairperson told the court. The bench said that the restaurant should be stopped from doing so and it should plant the trees it has cut.