Islamabad High Court orders rules for sheesha cafes within one month
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon announced that the ban would apply immediately until further orders. He said the decision was taken to implement the Islamabad High Court’s order.
The ban covers all types of sheesha cafes, including those with no-objection certificates (NOCs). Both indoor and outdoor cafes are included in the restriction.
Strict action against violators
The deputy commissioner warned that cafes found operating in violation of the order would be sealed. A case would also be registered against the owner of the establishment.
Assistant commissioners will conduct daily inspections to check whether cafes are following the court order. The move comes as authorities prepare for stricter enforcement across the capital.
IHC demands proper regulations
The Islamabad High Court earlier said sheesha cafes could not continue operating without a proper regulatory system. Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar gave the district administration one month to prepare comprehensive rules.
The court was hearing petitions linked to several sheesha cafes and action taken against businesses allegedly operating under interim NOCs. The deputy commissioner and Islamabad Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi also appeared before the court.
The chief justice said the court understood the business concerns of cafe owners. However, he stressed that business activities should not put the wider public at risk.
“Tomorrow, your brother or someone from your family could become a victim,” the chief justice remarked while discussing possible health risks.
Police report raids and underage customers
The Islamabad police chief told the court that strict action had already been taken against sheesha cafes following earlier court directions. He said cases had been registered against some establishments.
The IG also claimed that police teams faced resistance from some cafe owners during raids. According to him, children aged 14 and 15 were found at some establishments.
Police have also started an awareness campaign about the harmful effects of sheesha and the need for proper regulation. The court later observed that cafes could not continue operating in their current form without clear rules.
“There are no rules and regulations,” the chief justice observed, adding that the existing arrangement was damaging the lives of people in Islamabad.
Acting Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmed Jajja said people aged 18 or below were also involved in selling sheesha. He suggested that the Ministry of Health and federal government should be directed to develop proper regulations.
Jajja said the issue was more serious than smog and required a comprehensive response. When the chief justice asked whether cafe owners “shut their doors” during police raids, the Islamabad IG confirmed that this had happened several times.
The immediate ban puts sheesha cafes in Islamabad under serious pressure. Businesses will now have to wait for a proper regulatory framework before any future operation can be considered.
The court’s main concern appears to be public health and the presence of young people at some cafes. The next month will be important as the administration works on detailed rules for the sector.
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