Friends of Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) have expressed concern over recent legal developments they say could reopen settled court rulings on commercial activity inside the national park, including the former Monal site.

The group said the Islamabad High Court’s 2022 judgment and the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling clearly established that national parks are protected ecological zones where commercial activity cannot override conservation law. They described the decisions as a landmark environmental precedent in Pakistan.

According to Friends of MHNP, any attempt to revisit or weaken these rulings risks undermining long-standing environmental protections and could set a precedent for renewed commercial use of protected areas.

The organization stressed that Margalla Hills National Park, established in 1980, is a critical biodiversity zone supporting species including leopards, barking deer, wild boars, pangolins, and more than 260 bird species, and serves as a major public natural asset.

The group urged authorities to ensure full implementation of the court orders and prioritize ecological restoration at previously commercialized sites, suggesting low-impact public use such as viewpoints, nature education facilities, and eco-friendly visitor spaces.

They said the focus should remain on enforcing conservation law rather than revisiting settled judgments, warning that any dilution could affect broader protected-area governance across the country.