Islamabad’s iconic Monal Restaurant has returned to the headlines after the Federal Constitutional Court set aside the Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment concerning restaurants inside Margalla Hills National Park.
However, the latest decision does not mean that Monal can immediately rebuild or reopen at Pir Sohawa. Instead, the ruling has returned ownership questions to the trial courts, while regulatory and administrative matters will be handled by the relevant government authorities.
Therefore, although the judgment has reopened a legal pathway for Monal, a return to Margalla Hills remains uncertain.
Is Monal Reopening at Pir Sohawa?
As of 15 July 2026, Monal has not announced an official reopening date for its Pir Sohawa location.
The Federal Constitutional Court’s decision removed the effect of the earlier Supreme Court judgment. Nevertheless, it did not award the land to Monal, restore its expired lease, approve a new restaurant or grant permission for construction.
Instead, the court directed trial courts to independently decide the ownership disputes. Furthermore, administrative issues must now be determined by the Capital Development Authority, environmental bodies and other relevant regulators.
Consequently, reports claiming that Monal will immediately rebuild at Pir Sohawa are premature.
What Did the Federal Constitutional Court Decide?
On 13 July 2026, a Federal Constitutional Court bench headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi accepted appeals filed by the Capital Development Authority and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad.
The court set aside the Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment and directed that:
- Property ownership disputes should be decided by the trial courts.
- Trial courts should decide the pending cases as quickly as possible.
- Previous Supreme Court observations should not influence those proceedings.
- Administrative and regulatory matters should be decided by the relevant authorities.
The decision essentially separates the property dispute from environmental, land-use and administrative questions. Therefore, even a favourable ownership decision would not automatically permit Monal to construct or operate a restaurant inside the national park.
Monal Pir Sohawa Case: Complete Timeline
2006: Monal Receives a Lease
Monal was granted a lease in 2006 to operate a restaurant at Pir Sohawa inside Margalla Hills National Park. Over time, the restaurant became one of Islamabad’s best-known dining and tourism destinations.
June 2024: Supreme Court Orders Restaurants to Vacate
In June 2024, the Supreme Court ordered Monal and other restaurants operating inside Margalla Hills National Park to vacate the protected area.
The court maintained that commercial operations inside the national park conflicted with environmental conservation and wildlife protection requirements.
August 2024: Detailed Judgment Issued
The Supreme Court’s detailed judgment raised concerns about the effects of commercial activity on the park’s trees, wildlife, natural landscape and water catchment functions.
September 2024: Monal Pir Sohawa Closes
Monal, La Montana and other businesses at the location were closed in September 2024. The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board took possession of the restaurant sites with assistance from the CDA and Islamabad administration.
The CDA later informed the court that the restaurant structures had been demolished and the land reclaimed.
March 2026: Monal Opens at IMARAT Downtown
Monal returned to Islamabad in March 2026 at the rooftop of IMARAT Downtown on Islamabad Expressway.
Although the new venue offers panoramic city views, it is separate from the former Pir Sohawa restaurant and does not represent a reopening inside Margalla Hills National Park.
June 2026: Constitutional Court Reviews the Case
During hearings in June 2026, the Federal Constitutional Court questioned whether the earlier Supreme Court judgment had addressed matters beyond the original dispute.
13 July 2026: Earlier Judgment Set Aside
The Federal Constitutional Court set aside the 2024 judgment and returned the ownership questions to the trial courts. However, it left environmental and administrative decisions to the appropriate regulators.
What Must Happen Before Monal Can Rebuild?
Several major legal and regulatory steps would have to be completed before construction could begin.
First, the trial courts must decide the pending property and ownership cases. However, the FCC has not announced a fixed deadline for these decisions.
Second, the parties could challenge future trial-court decisions through appeals. Consequently, the ownership dispute may continue even after an initial judgment.
Third, Monal would need a valid legal right to occupy or lease the land. Setting aside the previous judgment does not automatically restore the original lease or create a new one.
In addition, the project would require land-use, building, environmental and wildlife-related approvals. Since the former location lies within Margalla Hills National Park, regulators may impose strict restrictions or refuse commercial construction altogether.
Finally, Monal could only begin designing and rebuilding after receiving all necessary permissions.
Possible Monal Rebuilding Timeline
There is currently no official timeline for rebuilding Monal at Pir Sohawa. Nevertheless, the following sequence explains what may happen next:
July–December 2026: Cases Return to Relevant Forums
The short order will be implemented, while ownership cases may return to the trial courts. Meanwhile, regulators may review their legal position following the FCC judgment.
2027: Possible Court Decisions and Regulatory Reviews
If the trial courts hear the cases quickly, initial decisions could potentially arrive during 2027. However, this is only a possibility because no hearing schedule or completion date has been publicly confirmed.
Moreover, appeals could delay the process further.
After Ownership Is Resolved: Applications for Approval
If Monal secures a favourable legal outcome, it may then seek a fresh lease, allotment, licence or operating agreement. Afterward, environmental, construction and commercial approvals would still be required.
Construction Stage
Only after receiving all permissions could rebuilding begin. Therefore, a return to Pir Sohawa during 2026 appears highly unlikely.
A reopening in 2027 or later may be theoretically possible, but any specific year remains speculative. Alternatively, regulators may decide that a major commercial restaurant cannot operate at the site, meaning Monal may never return to its original location.
Will the Old Monal Building Be Restored?
The former restaurant cannot simply resume operations because the site was taken over and the structures were reported as demolished or dismantled.
Therefore, any return would probably require a new approval process and substantial reconstruction. Additionally, a future design could face tighter environmental conditions, limits on building size, traffic controls, waste-management requirements and restrictions intended to protect wildlife.
Where Is Monal Operating Now?
Monal currently operates from the rooftop of IMARAT Downtown, Mall of IMARAT, on Islamabad Expressway.
The new restaurant opened in March 2026 and offers indoor and outdoor dining along with views of Islamabad. Consequently, customers do not need to wait for the Pir Sohawa dispute to be resolved in order to visit Monal in the capital.
Final Verdict: Is Monal Coming Back to Margalla Hills?
The Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling has improved Monal’s legal position because the previous Supreme Court judgment is no longer controlling the pending ownership cases.
However, the judgment is not a reopening order, a construction permit or a guarantee that Monal will return to Pir Sohawa.
For now, the most accurate conclusion is:
Monal may explore a return to Pir Sohawa, but rebuilding cannot begin until ownership disputes and regulatory approvals are resolved. No official opening date or construction schedule has been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Monal Pir Sohawa reopened?
No. The original Pir Sohawa location remains closed as of 15 July 2026.
Will Monal be rebuilt after the FCC decision?
Rebuilding is possible only if Monal secures the necessary property rights and receives fresh regulatory, environmental and construction approvals. It has not yet announced a rebuilding plan.
When will Monal Pir Sohawa reopen?
There is no confirmed reopening date. A reopening during 2026 appears unlikely because court proceedings and regulatory decisions are still required.
Did the court give the land back to Monal?
No. The court directed the trial courts to independently decide the ownership dispute.
Where is Monal Islamabad now?
Monal is currently operating at the rooftop of IMARAT Downtown on Islamabad Expressway.
Does the FCC ruling allow restaurants inside Margalla Hills National Park?
Not automatically. Relevant authorities must still decide environmental, land-use and administrative matters under the applicable laws.