Environmentalists Concerned Over Reports of Revisiting Monal’s Demolition Verdict

Friends of Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) have expressed concern over recent legal proceedings they say could reopen settled judicial decisions involving commercial activity inside the protected park area, including the former Monal Restaurant property.

The group said the Islamabad High Court’s 2022 judgment and the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling together established a clear legal precedent that national parks are designated for conservation and biodiversity protection, and that commercial use cannot override environmental law.

They described the rulings as a major environmental milestone in Pakistan’s legal history.

Environmental advocates associated with Friends of MHNP said the decisions were widely recognized for reinforcing the principle of public trust in natural resources, under which state institutions act as custodians of protected land on behalf of present and future generations.

They warned that any attempt to revisit or dilute these rulings could weaken environmental protections and open the door to renewed commercialization in sensitive ecological zones. They said the issue extends beyond a single site.

The organization highlighted that Margalla Hills National Park, established in 1980, is a key biodiversity zone supporting species such as leopards, barking deer, wild boars, pangolins, and more than 260 bird species, while also serving as a major recreational and ecological resource for Islamabad.

They urged authorities to ensure full implementation of the court rulings and to prioritize ecological restoration at previously commercialized sites. They proposed that such areas be developed only for low-impact public use, including nature education spaces, scenic viewpoints, and eco-friendly visitor facilities.

“The precedent must be protected, and protected areas must remain protected,” the group said, calling for strict enforcement of conservation principles across all national parks.