SC denies petition for review in Monal restaurant case

A trio of judges, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, considered a series of petitions filed by the Monal Group of Companies, the Capital View Point Restaurant (La Montana), Sunshine Heights (Pvt) Ltd, and Brig. retired Falak Naz Bangash of the defense ministry.

Today the Supreme Court announced the ruling that was reserved on September 6. Sunshine Heights, Monal, and La Montana restaurants were closed, and the ruling was upheld by the highest court.

A list of leases in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) must be filed, according the Supreme Court’s March 21 ruling, which directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance 1979 prohibits all such allotments. This was stated in an order passed by the Supreme Court office on June 11, 2024, after notices to the petitioners had been sent on April 22, 2024.

Owner Malik Luqman Ali Afzal of the Monal Restaurant in Margalla Hills received a contempt of court order from the Supreme Court (SC) on August 15.

When CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa was hearing a case involving commercial activity at Margalla Hills National Park, he said that although the restaurant owner had told the court that the hotel would close, he was now using TV to spread “propaganda” against the criminal justice system.

The CJP inquired as to why he did not show up for court today. According to the highest judge, Ali Afzal ought to offer jobs to the employees of his restaurants.