ISLAMABAD
\nThe Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed the district administration to formulate rules and regulations for shisha cafes within one month, while seeking details of the number of such establishments operating in the federal capital and action taken against those violating no-objection certificates (NOCs).
\nChief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar heard petitions concerning shisha cafes. Inspector General of Police Islamabad, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Advocate General Naved Hayat Malik and Acting Prosecutor General appeared before the court. During the hearing, the Chief Justice observed that the court respected businesses but warned against activities that could harm society.
\n\u201cDo not destroy the entire city,\u201d the Chief Justice remarked, adding that if cannabis was mixed with tobacco, it would still constitute smoking. He observed that such activities were taking place in open spaces and could adversely affect the younger generation.
\nThe Islamabad IG informed the court that strict action had been taken against shisha cafes following court orders. FIRs had also been registered against some persons, while authorities faced resistance from cafe owners during raids.
\nHe said children as young as 14 and 15 years had been found at some shisha cafes. The police had also launched an awareness campaign regarding the issue.
\nChief Justice Sarfraz Dogar observed that shisha cafes could not continue operating in the absence of proper rules and regulations. He remarked that the existing arrangements were adversely affecting the lives of residents of Islamabad.
\nActing Prosecutor General Manzoor Jajja told the court that some of the persons involved in selling shisha were also children aged 18 or below.
\nHe suggested that directions be issued to the Ministry of Health and the government to formulate proper rules, adding that activities at such establishments went beyond smoking. He said a report would be submitted to the court.
\nThe Chief Justice asked whether cafe operators closed their doors whenever raids were conducted. The Islamabad IG replied that this had been observed during all raids conducted by the authorities.
\nThe Chief Commissioner and district administration submitted their written response to the court, stating that shisha cafe NOCs were currently being issued under a temporary arrangement until formal rules were approved by the federal government.
\nThe administration said all NOCs for shisha cafes had been issued without any fee.
\nAccording to the response, there was no need for separate standard operating procedures for shisha cafes, as the principles laid down by the High Court were being followed as the criteria for issuance of NOCs.
\nThe district administration said, in light of the High Court\u2019s directions and World Health Organization guidelines, shisha was permitted only in open-air, uncovered areas.
\nIt said a separate written \u201cterrace permit\u201d from the relevant Assistant Commissioner was mandatory for serving shisha in an open area.
\nThe administration further stated that fire-safety arrangements and the validity of fire extinguishers at shisha cafes would be inspected regularly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed the district administration to formulate rules and regulations for shisha cafes within one month, while seeking details of the number of such establishments operating in the federal capital and action taken against those violating no-objection certificates (NOCs). Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar heard petitions concerning shisha […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":546278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-566512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n