In a significant development, two contempt pleas have been filed in the Supreme Court against restaurants at Monal for perceived violation of the court’s order to relocate from the Margalla Hills National Park area. The petitions, filed by Bilal Haque and Rina Saeed Khan, allege that no progress has been made in dismantling the structures, showing a lack of intention to obey the court order.
The Supreme Court had ordered the relocation of restaurants, including Monal, from the national park area within three months on June 11. However, the petitioners claim that not a single brick has been removed, indicating a clear disregard for the court’s directives.
The petitions also highlight the removal of Rina Saeed Khan as the chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the transfer of administrative control to the Ministry of Interior. This move is seen as detrimental to the protection of the park’s wildlife and flora, as it may lead to further commercialization and development in the area.
The petitioners argue that the respondents, including the Secretary Cabinet, Interior Secretary, and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman, have failed to comply with the court’s order and are instead focused on dismantling the IWMB. This, they claim, is a clear violation of the court’s directives and the law.
The Supreme Court’s order had aimed to preserve the Margalla Hills National Park for the protection of wildlife and educational purposes. However, the petitioners allege that the respondents are complicit in or indifferent to the construction of a major housing society in the national park, which is a clear violation of the court’s order.
The petitions seek contempt proceedings against the respondents for violating the Supreme Court’s order and disregarding the law. The case highlights the ongoing struggle to protect Pakistan’s natural resources and wildlife from commercialization and development.
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