Pakistan's Federal Constitutional Court overturned a previous order to demolish the Monal Restaurant and other establishments in the Margalla Hills [1].
The decision resolves a high-profile legal battle over land use in the Pir Sohawa area of Islamabad. It prevents the immediate destruction of prominent businesses that had been targeted by a prior judicial mandate [1].
The Federal Constitutional Court said the decision was announced on July 13, 2026 [2]. The ruling nullified a 2024 judgment issued by the Supreme Court, which had ordered the demolition of the Monal Restaurant and several other eateries located in the hills [1].
Legal proceedings began when the Federal Constitutional Court raised questions regarding the legality and the basis of the original Supreme Court verdict [1]. The court accepted appeals filed by the Capital Development Authority, which led the judges to set aside the demolition order [1].
Reports of the overturning continued through July 14, 2026 [3]. The Monal Restaurant is a well-known landmark in the Pir Sohawa region, and the threat of demolition had created significant uncertainty for local business owners and the Capital Development Authority [1].
The court's move to set aside the 2024 ruling effectively halts the demolition process that the Supreme Court had previously initiated [1].
“The Federal Constitutional Court overturned a previous order to demolish the Monal Restaurant.”
This ruling signals a significant shift in the judicial oversight of land development in Islamabad. By overturning the Supreme Court's 2024 order, the Federal Constitutional Court has prioritized the administrative appeals of the Capital Development Authority over the previous environmental or zoning mandates, providing a legal reprieve for commercial entities in the Margalla Hills.
