Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar has ordered a ban on sheesha cafes in the federal capital until the government introduces the necessary legislation and regulatory framework.
The directive was issued during an in-chamber hearing of a petition seeking action against illegally operating sheesha cafes. Islamabad Chief Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP) were present during the proceedings.
The chief justice issued the order after being informed that sheesha cafes were operating without a proper legal framework.
Expressing displeasure over what he described as a misinterpretation of an earlier court order, the chief justice said the previous ruling had been presented as permission for sheesha cafes to operate, although it only allowed establishments functioning in accordance with the law to continue their activities.
“If rules are not formulated, does that mean illegal activities will be permitted?” he remarked, questioning how such establishments were operating in Islamabad without regulations.
Court staff read out the order issued during the previous hearing, following which the chief justice observed that a specific paragraph had been misrepresented to suggest that the court had authorised the cafes.
The state counsel informed the court that draft regulations had been prepared and forwarded to the government for approval.
The petitioner’s lawyer urged the court to direct the closure of all sheesha cafes until the rules were finalised. The chief justice observed that a temporary blanket ban could be imposed, with the matter reviewed once the government established the required regulatory framework.
He expressed concern over media reports claiming that he had granted permission for the cafes to operate, saying the earlier order had been presented inaccurately.
Questioning the deputy commissioner’s reported decision to authorise the establishments, the chief justice said permission could not be granted without a legal basis.
“Children are being habituated to sheesha,” he remarked.
The chief justice also questioned the practice of classifying such premises as private property to prevent officials from entering them, observing that the cafes were accessible to the public. He said the government should at least introduce standard operating procedures if it was unable to formulate comprehensive regulations.
During the hearing, Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmed Jajja referred to a Supreme Court order concerning sheesha cafes, stating that the apex court had previously imposed a ban on such establishments in a suo motu case.
Islamabad police submitted a report rejecting allegations of negligence and inaction against illegal sheesha cafes.
According to the report, police registered 28 cases involving hookah-related violations at 10 police stations between January 1 and July 15, 2026, naming 119 individuals.
A further 61 cases were registered between July 16 and September 7, while legal action was taken against 163 accused individuals within the jurisdictions of 13 police stations following court orders.
The police said a zero-tolerance policy was being enforced against sheesha cafes and narcotics-related activities. Measures included intelligence-based patrolling around educational institutions, hostels, parks and bus stands, surveillance of cafes by specialised teams, decoy operations and the integration of CCTV cameras at commercial premises with the Safe City system.
The report also highlighted the “Nasha Ab Nahin” awareness campaign, launched on April 26, 2024. Citizens can report illegal establishments through the 1-Info application and other reporting channels, it added.
The petitioner’s counsel told the court that enforcement teams frequently encountered resistance during operations. The lawyer suggested keeping the cafes closed for 15 to 20 days to allow sufficient time for the government to finalise the regulations.
A written order detailing the in-chamber proceedings will be issued later.
