ISLAMABAD: A controversy has emerged as the Ministry of Climate Change considers de-notifying the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and appointing new members under the recently enacted Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act 2023.

This potential move has raised alarm among environmentalists and civil society in the capital.

The IWMB, particularly its Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan, has faced scrutiny since the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the demolition of the Monal Restaurant in the Margalla Hills National Park.

In the landmark decision on July 11, 2024, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court, led by then Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, ruled that granting leases to mega restaurants in the protected national park violated Section 21 of the Islamabad Wildlife Ordinance 1979.

Shortly after the verdict, the Climate Change Ministry removed Ms Khan from her position through a notification, transferring the IWMB to the administrative control of the Interior Ministry. This sparked a backlash with civil society members approaching the Supreme Court.

Our only crime is implementing Supreme Court’s orders to demolish Monal Restaurant, says wildlife board chairperson

The then chief justice of Pakistan observed that the notification had been issued by Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal, brother of the owner of Monal Restaurant, an act which in itself smacked of mala fides.

In September 2024, the board carried out the court’s orders, overseeing the demolition of the Monal Restaurant and other illegal structures. While cranes were demolishing the Monal building, the same day an unknown contractor with no apparent nexus to the case managed to get a stay against the operation from a civil court in Islamabad presided by Judge Inamullah.

The Supreme Court intervened again, lifting the stay and recommending disciplinary action against the judge who issued it.

The judge was subsequently suspended for misconduct. Despite these challenges, the IWMB has recently launched a master plan to re-green 80 kanals reclaimed from the illegal developments on the Margalla ridge.

This initiative has been well-received, but the ministry’s current move to restructure the board has raised questions about its motives.

According to a source in the ministry, the government cites Section 3 of the Wildlife Act, which granted the government authority to notify the board members. However, the law does not explicitly state whether this power can override the current board’s three-year tenure.

When contacted, Secretary Ministry of Climate Change Aisha Humaira told Dawn that the process to bring in new and qualified members was well within the ambit of the legal framework and after seeking advice from the Ministry of Law.

However, Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan called the development “unfortunate,” adding: “Our only crime is implementing the Supreme Court’s orders regarding Monal’s demolition. The Act was intended to strengthen the board, not weaken it. Certain lobbies are determined to see us fail.

“The bureaucrats in the Ministry of Climate Change are trying to use a most twisted interpretation of the Wildlife Act. The Act was passed by the parliament for the very opposite purpose: to strengthen the institution of the board, not to weaken it.”

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024