Supreme Court orders desealing of Monal Restaurant in Islamabad
Apex court overturns IHC order, saying magistrate sealed restaurant without any notice
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The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the desealing of Islamabad’s famous Monal Restaurant overturning the verdict of Islamabad High Court, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Overturning the IHC decision, the apex court on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to reopen the restaurant in the federal capital.
The Supreme Court observed that the Islamabad High Court had never released the order to seal the Monal Restaurant and suspended the unsigned short order of the IHC.
The apex court further remarked "The magistrate had sealed the Monal Restaurant without first issuing a notice to the owners. Other restaurants in the surroundings of Monal were duly notified before they were sealed."
Wildlife and Management Board had sealed the Monal Restaurant without providing any certified copy of the IHC, the court said. However, the court said it was not yet aware of the IHC decision’s legal aspect.
On January 11 last, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah had ordered authorities to seal Monal Restaurant — situated at the Margalla Hills National Park. "This court will protect the wider public interest," the judge had said, noting that the national park's land belongs to the state, and no commercial activities could be carried out there.
"No one can even cut the grass on the land; this land belongs to the state."
Reporter Imanat Gishkori