Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar has ruled that sheesha cafes should not be allowed to operate in Islamabad until rules and regulations governing them are framed.
Hearing a case against illegal sheesha cafes, the court summoned the Chief Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad to appear at 2 pm and directed both officers to submit affidavits stating that no illegal sheesha cafe will run in the city.
During the hearing, the chief justice asked how illegal sheesha cafes were operating in Islamabad and whether the government had framed any rules to regulate them.
A government lawyer said rules on sheesha cafes have been prepared and sent to the government, with approval expected soon.
The petitioner’s counsel sought closure of all sheesha cafes until the rules are approved.
The chief justice remarked that the court’s earlier order had been misconstrued to create the impression that he had allowed sheesha cafes to operate, which he said brought disrepute to the court.
He noted that children are being introduced to sheesha smoking, while officials are blocked from entering premises on the pretext of private property.
He said if the government does not frame rules, the relevant departments should prepare their own standard operating procedures.
The prosecutor general read out the Supreme Court’s suo motu order on sheesha cafes, saying the top court had imposed a ban on them.
Advocate Qaiser Imam said court orders on sheesha cafes have been issued for the past six years and sought clarification if the court’s ruling had been misrepresented.
The court said it would review the matter after the affidavits of the two officers are submitted.
Separately, the Islamabad Inspector General of Police filed a response rejecting allegations of negligence over sheesha cafes and drugs, saying a zero-tolerance policy is being enforced.
According to the police report, 28 cases were registered at 10 police stations from January 1 to July 15, 2026, and another 61 cases were registered from July 16 to September 7, 2026. Legal action was taken against 163 accused under 13 police stations after court orders.
Police said special teams have been formed for surveillance, commercial CCTV cameras are being linked with the Safe City system, and operations are being conducted with the help of undercover clients against sheesha cafes.
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