Islamabad, Sep 18: The Margalla Hills National Park’s Monal and La Montana restaurants have been taken over by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) in order to demolish the buildings and return the impacted region to its natural state, per the Supreme Court’s directives.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been asked by the wildlife board to supply personnel and heavy machinery needed to demolish these eateries. According to sources, the IWMB looked for equipment to remove the debris and structure.
“Now that IWMB has effectively regained control, we are getting ready to start demolishing the buildings in accordance with the Supreme Court’s (decision). The letter from IWMB dated September 12 stated, “In this regard, we kindly request the provision of the necessary machinery and staff…through the Machinery Procurement Office (MPO) of the CDA or otherwise as appropriate.”
The letter to the CDA environment member expressed gratitude for the CDA’s assistance in obtaining ownership of the Monal and La Montana restaurants. According to an IWMB official, the IWMB will fully carry out the SC instructions issued on August 21 after the demolishing operation is over, with an emphasis on returning the damaged regions to their pre-disturbance status.
The breezy mountaintop with a beautiful view of the city was open to the public until enormous restaurants were built on the ridge on Pir Sohawa Road in the heart of Margalla Hills National Park, he said, adding that the same viewpoint will be restored after the abovementioned facilities were removed.
Sources claim that although the CDA has not yet made a decision on the review petition, it would wait for the “opportune moment” even if it chooses to proceed to the highest court. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa noted in a 13-page ruling that Gloria Jeans and La Montana had completely disregarded the terms of the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation and Management) Ordinance, 1979.
Three judges, led by Chief Justice Isa, rejected a set of review petitions filed by the Monal Group of Companies, the Capital View Point Restaurant (La Montana), Sunshine Heights (Pvt) Ltd, and retired brigadier Falak Naz Bangash of the defense ministry. The other two judges on the bench were Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.
