FCCP rejects plea to reopen Monal Restaurant, adjourns review case to July

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2026) The Federal Constitutional Court on Thursday rejected a request for the immediate reopening of Monal Restaurant and adjourned further hearing of a review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision ordering the restaurant’s closure and demolition until the second week of July.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the case. During the proceedings, the federal government supported the review petition seeking reconsideration of the Supreme Court’s verdict relating to the demolition of Monal Restaurant.

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi raised a number of questions regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling, observing that while the judgment had recognized animal rights, questions remained regarding the rights of human beings affected by the decision.

He noted that litigation concerning the renewal of Monal’s lease was pending before a civil court, while intra-court appeals filed by some restaurants were also awaiting adjudication before the high court.

Counsel for Monal Restaurant argued that the Supreme Court, through a single judgment, had effectively disposed of several cases that were pending before different courts.

Justice Rizvi questioned why the issue of deciding matters without hearing all relevant parties had not been raised before the Supreme Court and why the lawyers had remained silent at the time.

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Responding to the court's query, senior lawyer Ahsan Bhoon said that he stood before the Constitutional Court today with the same respect and decorum that he had shown before the Supreme Court.

Justice Rizvi remarked that it was the duty of lawyers to raise legal points before the court, adding that mere deference could not substitute legal arguments.

During the hearing, the Additional Attorney General informed the court that a new law relating to the Wildlife board had come into force in 2024.

He further stated that all parties were in agreement that the cases pending before the civil court should be allowed to proceed and that the Supreme Court’s judgment should be set aside.

Justice Rizvi, however, observed that courts do not function on the basis of consensus among lawyers and that a Supreme Court judgment could not be overturned merely because the parties agreed to do so. He added that any decision to withdraw or set aside a judicial order would require a detailed judgment.

The court also remarked that it did not wish to impose its decision on any party and would not pass any order without hearing all stakeholders. Subsequently, the bench rejected the request for the immediate reopening of Monal Restaurant and adjourned further proceedings in the case until the second week of July.