Supreme Court Orders Complete Record of Alleged Illegal Society in Margalla Hills National Park
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the administration to provide a full record of an allegedly illegal housing society, Northridge Housing Society, located in Sector C-12. The society is accused of encroaching upon land within the protected Margalla Hills National Park.
The court’s directive came after a lawyer, Barrister Umer Ijaz Gillani, informed the bench that the society’s owner allegedly had close ties with retired Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, a former high-ranking military officer. However, the lawyer admitted he had no formal documentation to substantiate the ownership claim.
The case was heard by a three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. The bench was reviewing contempt of court petitions relating to violations of a previous Supreme Court ruling from June 11. This ruling required the removal of restaurants within the national park, including the popular Monal restaurant, within three months.
Housing Society Allegedly Encroaching on State Land
The issue of Northridge Housing Society was raised in a separate application filed by environmentalist Hameed Khan, who claimed the society was built on state land. Khan alleged that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had swiftly handed over possession of 78 kanals of land belonging to the Forest Department, which later became part of the housing society. The land, which includes parts of the Margalla Hills, was reportedly sold for profit by the society’s owners.
In response, the Supreme Court directed both the CDA and the chief commissioner to submit the complete ownership records and relevant documents for Northridge Housing Society.
Controversy Over Monal Restaurant Demolition
In a related case, the court expressed concern over the actions of Islamabad senior civil judge Inamullah, who issued a stay order halting the demolition of La Montana restaurant, located inside the national park, despite the Supreme Court’s order for its removal.
The court highlighted that the stay order was granted without proper scrutiny, including the payment of court fees. The court referred the matter to the Islamabad High Court, suggesting potential disciplinary action against the civil judge for obstructing the Supreme Court’s order.
Criticism of Social Media Campaigns and Media Coverage
The Supreme Court also raised concerns about ongoing social media campaigns against the judiciary, specifically in relation to its rulings. The court questioned whether the media should focus on judicial matters or on individual personalities, expressing regret over the negative narratives surrounding its decisions.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Stand on Margalla Hills Construction
During the hearing, the Advocate General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Shah Faisal, informed the court that the Forest Lands Act of 2002 prohibits construction within the Margalla Hills area in the province. The court noted that Dino Valley Amusement Park, owned by Luqman Ali Afzal (who also owns Monal restaurant), is situated within the protected area. The Supreme Court issued notice to the owners of Dino Valley regarding this issue but dismissed the contempt notice previously issued to Afzal for allegedly leading a campaign against the court’s decision to relocate Monal.
This case highlights the ongoing battle between environmental preservation efforts and commercial developments within Pakistan’s national parks, while also drawing attention to broader concerns over judicial authority and public discourse.
