1,100 jobless as Margalla restaurant closures spark protests

Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has come under criticism from the Talhar, Gokina, Pir Sohawa, Sanghar, and Kharian, along with the Youth Wing of Talhar Gokina for leaving scores jobless as it demolished Monal and La Montana restaurants in Margalla Hills National Park.

The group, in a press released, accused the IWMB of "double standards and selective enforcement of laws", which they claim have disproportionately affected them.

While the move was intended to preserve the Margalla Hills National Park's integrity, it has sparked outrage among affected employees and locals, who accuse the Wildlife Board of double standards and selective enforcement of the law.

The closure and demolition of the two iconic restaurants were carried out after the Supreme Court declared them illegal, citing violations of the national park's boundaries and environmental laws. 

However, critics argue that the enforcement has been inconsistent, pointing out that over 100 other commercial establishments within the national park, including Islamabad Club, Gun Club, and various restaurants, continue to operate without intervention.

Locals have questioned the Wildlife Board's motives, accusing it of favouring establishments frequented by government officials. “Why do officers have separate laws for their children and separate for public spaces?” they asked in a press release. 

They also highlighted that, despite the closure of Monal and La Montana, a large restaurant in Daman Koh has been licensed to operate, further fuelling allegations of bias.

The closure of the restaurants has rendered over 1,100 employees jobless, the statement mentioned. The affected workers claim the Wildlife Board Chairperson has refused to meet with them, exacerbating their frustrations. 

“These actions of the Chairperson Wildlife Board made us unemployed on the one hand and on the other hand, the entire area was made a hub of criminal activities,” the press release said, citing three murders and several robberies reported on Pir Sohawa Road over the last four months.

Locals have also criticised the state of Pir Sohawa Road, describing it as damaged and littered with garbage, querying: “Why don't the so-called environmental pollution authorities see all this now?”

In response to their grievances, the displaced employees have demanded licenses to operate kiosks on the land adjacent to the demolished restaurants. They have threatened to stage a sit-in outside Islamabad Club until the Wildlife Board ensures equal application of the law across all commercial establishments within the park.

“Our next step will be a sit-in in front of the Islamabad Club and will continue till the law of the Wildlife Board is equally implemented on Islamabad Club. Hope it doesn't happen,” they warned.

The controversy stems from an August 2024 Supreme Court ruling that declared restaurants like Monal, La Montana, and Gloria Jeans illegal and ordered their closure. 

Then-chief justice Qazi Faez Isa emphasised the environmental damage caused by these establishments, including the destruction of flora and the displacement of wildlife.

The court directed the IWMB, with the support of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and police, to take possession of the sites and restore the area to its natural state.