FCC questions SC judgment ordering demolition of restaurants in Margalla Hills National Park

Pakistan's Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has raised questions regarding a Supreme Court judgment that mandated the demolition of restaurants within the Margalla Hills National Park. The FCC bench, led by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, is examining a review petition filed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

This development follows the Supreme Court's August 21, 2024, order to close Monal restaurant and the adjacent La Montana. These establishments, along with Gloria Jeans, were subsequently shut down the following month to safeguard the park's delicate biodiversity. The court's initial ruling aimed to reverse the encroachment of infrastructure within the protected natural area.

The CDA's petition challenges the Supreme Court's directives to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) to take possession of these restaurants. The FCC's scrutiny suggests a potential re-evaluation of the demolition orders and the legal basis for their implementation, particularly concerning the rights and responsibilities of the involved authorities and businesses operating within the national park.