What happened: On March 8, the Supreme Court halted the Jan 11 Islamabad High Court decision to seal and take control of the Monal Restaurant in the scenic Margalla Hills. Details: “The IHC’s unsigned ruling shall be suspended,” ruled a three-judge Supreme Court panel led by Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan. As a result, the Monal Restaurant will be de-sealed. On Jan 11, the high court ordered the Capital Development Authority and the Wild Life Management Board to seize ownership of Monal and seal its premises in exchange for allowing its owner/management to remove its property. The court procession: The court that heard the Monal Group of Companies’ appeal questioned why no action was taken against the other 13 restaurants in close proximity, such as La-Montana, Gloria Jeans, and others, and why only Monal being discriminated against. Why it matters: The petitioner claimed that the restaurant chain employed 650 people and that as a result of the high court judgement, the employees and their families were suffering. Also: In its appeal, the Monal Group argued before the Supreme Court that the high court, acting on its own initiative, ordered the CDA chairman and the IWMB to seize possession and seal the premises when none of the parties had sought such a direction, stating that it undermined the petitioner’s fundamental rights.