Islamabad imposes complete ban on shisha cafes following IHC order

He added that assistant commissioners would ensure daily inspections by conducting operations without discrimination,. Earlier, Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar remarked during a hearing that shisha cafés would not be allowed to operate in their current manner without rules being formulated.

“No rules have been made, and there are no regulations,” the chief justice observed, adding that such arrangements were damaging the lives of people in Islamabad. “Everything is happening in an open space. You are taking your generations towards destruction,” he remarked.

Read:Sheesha cafes face legal action over drug links. The Islamabad Police chief had been taken against shisha cafés in compliance with its orders. The IHC chief justice made the remarks while hearing a petition seeking details of shisha cafés operating in Islamabad.

Islamabad IGP Ali Nasir Rizvi and Deputy Commissioner Islamabad appeared before the court in person. Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik and Acting Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmad Jajja were also present.

“We have great respect for your business, but do not destroy the entire city,” Justice Dogar said and questioned whether smoking tobacco mixed with cannabis could still be considered merely smoking.

Justice Dogar warned that such practices could affect members of the public, saying, “It should not happen that tomorrow your brother or someone from your family becomes a victim of this.”IGP Rizvi action had been taken against the cafés following the court’s order. He said officials had also faced resistance from café owners.

The IGP said children aged 14 and 15 had been found at some of the cafés. FIRs had been registered against some individuals, while an awareness campaign had also been launched. Acting Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmad Jajja suggested that directions be issued to the Ministry of Health and the government to formulate rules.

“Not only smoking, but things beyond that are also taking place. We will submit a report on the matter,” he said. The chief justice said he had learnt that café operators closed their doors when raids were conducted.

“If you find out about any such café, seal it,” he directed. The chief commissioner and district administration submitted a written response stating that, until formal laws were approved, no-objection certificates (NOCs) for shisha cafés were being issued under a temporary arrangement.

Read More:IHC seeks details of Islamabad sheesha cafés. According to the response, the district administration had issued all NOCs for shisha cafés without charging any fee. It stated that there was no need to formulate separate standard operating procedures for shisha cafés, as the principles laid down by the High Court itself served as the criteria for issuing NOCs.

In accordance with the directions of the high court and the World Health Organisation, shisha was permitted only in open-air, uncovered areas. A separate written “terrace permit” from the relevant assistant commissioner was mandatory for the purpose.

The administration also stated that the unsafe storage of charcoal and related equipment at shisha cafés posed a major fire hazard. All fire-safety and fire-prevention measures had therefore been made mandatory for restaurants. The serving of shisha and other tobacco products was restricted to adults, while cafés were also required to maintain environmental standards.

The court order constituted an interim arrangement that would remain in force until the federal government formulated formal rules. After directing the authorities to formulate the rules, the court adjourned the hearing for one month.