Maaks International Wins Interim Victory Over Pizza Hut Pakistan Rights

A new development has come out of the Intellectual Property Tribunal in Islamabad involving Pizza Hut’s franchise rights in Pakistan. Here’s what actually happened, explained in plain, simple terms.

This piece walks through the interim order issued on 10 September 2026, what it actually says, who it applies to, and where things stand next. It also covers some background on Maaks International and the company’s position in this matter.

The Case, in Simple Terms

The case is registered as Suit No. 44/2026, titled Maaks International vs. Pizza Hut and others, before the Intellectual Property Tribunal, Islamabad/Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Maaks International is the plaintiff. There are multiple defendants named in the case, along with what the order refers to as “proforma defendants.” On 10 September 2026, the Tribunal issued Order No. 03 in this matter.

It’s worth being clear from the start: this is an interim order, not a final judgment. That distinction matters a lot, and we’ll come back to it throughout this article.

Who Was Present in Court

On the day of this order, here’s who showed up:

• A lawyer represented Maaks International, the plaintiff.
• Nobody appeared on behalf of defendants No. 1, 2, and 3.
• A lawyer filed a memo of appearance on behalf of proforma defendant No. 1, but that’s a procedural filing, not full participation in the case yet.

So at this stage, the other side largely hadn’t shown up to contest the case yet.

What Maaks International Argued

According to the order, Maaks International’s lawyer told the Tribunal that the company is the Master Franchisee of Pizza Hut in Pakistan. This claim was based on a few documents:

• A Share Purchase Agreement dated 29 July 2022
• The corresponding franchise structure
• A Development Agreement
• An International Franchise Agreement

The lawyer also argued that defendant No. 3 had been independently setting up and running a Pizza Hut location without Maaks International’s involvement, and was doing so under the Pizza Hut name, logo, and branding. The lawyer further said defendants No. 1 to 3 were using Pizza Hut’s digital presence including its website, social media pages, and a specific UAN number to present themselves as authorized operators.

It’s important to note something here: these are arguments Maaks International’s side made in court. The Tribunal recorded them as part of the plaintiff’s case, but a full hearing with the other side’s response hadn’t happened yet at this stage.

What the Tribunal Actually Ordered

The Tribunal issued a short-term restraining order. Here’s what it covers, in simple words:

The court restrained defendant No. 3, along with its directors, managers, employees, agents, and anyone acting on its behalf, from doing any of the following until the next hearing:

• Opening new Pizza Hut outlets
• Establishing or operating existing ones
• Managing, advertising, or branding anything under the Pizza Hut name
• Using the Pizza Hut logo, trademarks, trade dress, or visual identity in any way

This restriction applies specifically to defendant No. 3. The order also noted that a UAN number being used by some parties isn’t an official Pizza Hut Pakistan number, and directed that it not be represented as one.

This restraining order stays in effect only until the case’s next scheduled date — it’s not a permanent ban.

Why This Is Called an “Interim” Order

An interim order is a temporary measure a court puts in place while a case is still being heard. It’s meant to prevent one side from taking actions that could cause harm before the full case gets decided.

This particular order makes that temporary nature very clear. It states that it’s issued “without prejudice to the former proceedings being pending,” meaning it doesn’t override or finally decide anything connected to other ongoing legal matters. It also sets a specific date, 15 September 2026, for defendants to file their written statements and counter-affidavits.

In other words, the other side hasn’t had its full opportunity to respond yet. Once they do, the Tribunal will consider both sides before reaching any final decision.

A Pending Appeal in the High Court

The order also references another detail worth knowing: there’s a separate appeal currently pending before the Honourable High Court, connected to earlier proceedings in this broader dispute. The Tribunal’s order specifically avoided interfering with that pending matter.

This tells us the overall legal situation is still actively unfolding across more than one forum, not settled in a single ruling.

Maaks International’s Position

Separately from the court order itself, Maaks International has publicly stated its position on this matter. The company says it is the official and authorized Master Franchisee, or Master Operational Franchisee, of Pizza Hut in Pakistan, under the Pizza Hut MENAPAKT and Yum! Brands franchise structure.

This status connects back to a longer chain of agreements. Maaks International’s leadership, under CEO Muhammad Sami Ullah Khan, previously ran MCR (Pvt.) Ltd., which held the Pizza Hut business in Pakistan before Maaks International existed. Maaks International later acquired MCR’s business assets, including its Pizza Hut operations, and secured approval from Pizza Hut MENAPAKT FZ LLC in 2022, followed by verification from Yum! Brands globally.

The company states it currently has 13 official branches operating across Pakistan, with additional branches expected to reopen soon under required Pizza Hut standard operating procedures.

Maaks International has also said it disputes the authorization of a number of other Pizza Hut-branded locations that it says are not part of its official network. The company has framed this as an ongoing legal matter and has said it’s pursuing the issue through the appropriate courts, rather than making a final determination outside of that process.

Why This Matters for the Public

For customers, suppliers, landlords, and anyone doing business connected to Pizza Hut in Pakistan, situations like this are a good reminder to check documentation carefully before assuming any outlet or representative is officially authorized.

Maaks International’s public notice specifically asked stakeholders to verify authorization before entering into agreements or investments tied to the Pizza Hut brand. That’s reasonable advice regardless of how the underlying case eventually gets resolved — verifying documentation is always safer than assuming based on branding alone.

Next Steps in the Legal Proceedings 

The case isn’t over. Based on the order itself, here’s what’s scheduled next:

• 15 September 2026: Defendants are due to file written statements and counter-affidavits.
• The restraining order against defendant No. 3 remains active until then, subject to how service of the order is completed.
• The separate High Court appeal continues on its own track.

Until these steps play out, this remains an active, unresolved legal matter. The interim order reflects where things stand right now, not a final answer.

Final Thoughts

The 10 September 2026 interim order from the Intellectual Property Tribunal represents a short-term legal win for Maaks International against one specific defendant, based on arguments the company’s legal team presented in court. It temporarily restrains that defendant from certain Pizza Hut-related activities until the case’s next hearing.

It is not, however, a final ruling on who holds Pizza Hut’s master franchise rights in Pakistan. That question remains before the courts, with written statements still due and a related appeal still pending in the High Court. Anyone following this story should treat it as an active legal process, with more updates likely as the case moves forward.

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