IHC Gives Islamabad Administration One Month to Frame Sheesha Café Rules

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad district administration has imposed a complete ban on the operation of all sheesha cafés across the federal capital until further notice, including establishments holding NOCs, hours after the Islamabad High Court directed authorities to formulate formal rules governing such businesses within one month.

The Deputy Commissioner Islamabad has issued instructions to all assistant commissioners to enforce the restriction across their respective jurisdictions, according to the district administration.

The order applies to both indoor and outdoor sheesha operations, meaning cafés holding previously issued NOCs or permissions will also not be permitted to provide sheesha until further orders.

The district administration has directed assistant commissioners to conduct daily inspections and take action without discrimination. According to the administration, establishments found violating the restriction may be sealed and legal proceedings initiated against their operators in accordance with applicable law.

IHC Orders Formal Rules Within One Month

The development follows proceedings before the Islamabad High Court in petitions seeking details about the number of sheesha cafés operating in Islamabad and action taken against establishments accused of violating NOC conditions.

Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard the petitions and directed the district administration to frame rules within one month. The Inspector General of Islamabad Police and Deputy Commissioner Islamabad appeared before the court in person, while Advocate General Islamabad Naveed Hayat Malik and Acting Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmed Jajja also appeared.

During the hearing, the chief justice raised concerns over sheesha cafés operating in the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework and made it clear that such establishments could not continue under an arrangement lacking formal rules and regulations.

The Islamabad police chief informed the court that authorities had taken strict action following earlier judicial directions and that cases had been registered in some instances. He also told the court that enforcement teams had encountered resistance from some café operators during inspections.

According to the IG Islamabad’s submissions before the court, boys and girls aged as young as 14 and 15 had been found at some establishments during enforcement activity. He further said that Islamabad Police had launched an awareness campaign on the issue.

Acting Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmed Jajja also raised concerns before the court and sought directions for the relevant government and health authorities to formulate regulations.

The chief justice directed authorities to take action wherever violations were detected and questioned the police chief about reports of café operators closing doors when enforcement teams arrived. The IG told the court that police had encountered such situations during inspections.

Earlier NOC Regime Suspended

Meanwhile, the Chief Commissioner and Islamabad district administration submitted a written response detailing the regulatory arrangement under which sheesha café NOCs had previously been issued.

According to the administration’s written response, NOCs were being issued as an interim arrangement pending formal rules by the federal government and no fee had been charged for those NOCs.

The administration told the court that the Islamabad High Court’s previously established principles formed the basis of the interim arrangement. Under those conditions, sheesha service had been permitted only in open and uncovered areas, subject to a separate written “terrace permit” from the relevant assistant commissioner.

The administration also stated that smoking and sheesha service inside restaurants or in covered areas remained prohibited. Fire-safety arrangements, including the validity of fire extinguishers, were required to be inspected, while assistant commissioners had authority to inspect establishments and take action under applicable law.

Its response further cited risks associated with unsafe storage of coal and related materials and said restaurants were required to comply with fire-prevention and safety requirements. The administration maintained that sheesha and other tobacco products could only be provided to adults under the interim conditions.

However, following Wednesday’s court proceedings, the district administration has now suspended sheesha operations altogether until further notice, including at cafés holding NOCs and regardless of whether service is offered indoors or outdoors.

The latest administrative order therefore supersedes the practical operation of the earlier interim permission regime for the duration of the suspension.

Assistant commissioners have been instructed to ensure daily inspections across Islamabad. The administration has warned that cafés violating the restriction face sealing and legal proceedings against their operators.

The Islamabad High Court, meanwhile, has adjourned further proceedings for one month after directing the authorities to formulate the required rules.