ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has banned sheesha cafes in the federal capital until the government frames legislation to regulate their operations.

Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar issued the direction during an in-chamber hearing of a petition. The chief commissioner, deputy commissioner and inspector general of police (IGP) Islamabad were present. The chief justice issued the order after being informed that the sheesha cafes lacked legal cover.

The petition sought action against illegal sheesha cafes. The chief justice expressed displeasure over the alleged misinterpretation of an earlier court order, which had been cited to suggest that the court had permitted the establishments to operate.

“If rules are not formulated, does that mean illegal activities will be permitted?” the chief justice remarked, questioning how sheesha cafes were functioning in Islamabad without regulations.

As many as 28 cases related to hookah violations registered at 10 police stations between Jan 1 and July 15, court informed

The court staff read out the order passed at the previous hearing, which, according to the chief justice, had only stated that establishments operating in accordance with the law should be allowed to continue. He said the order had subsequently been misrepresented as the permission to operate sheesha cafes.

The state counsel informed the court that draft rules had been prepared and forwarded to the government for approval.

The petitioner’s counsel urged the court to order the closure of all sheesha cafes until the regulations were finalised. The chief justice observed that a temporary blanket ban could be imposed with the matter reviewed after the government established the necessary framework.

“When we issued a lenient order, it was claimed that the chief justice had granted permission. News tickers ran claiming that the chief justice had authorised it, and the whole world saw it,” he remarked.

Questioning the deputy commissioner’s reported decision to grant permission to the cafes, the chief justice said a particular paragraph of the court order had been picked out to issue authorisation without any legal basis.

“Permission cannot be granted in this manner. Children are being habituated to sheesha,” he remarked.

He also questioned the practice of declaring such premises private property to prevent officials from entering them, observing that the establishments were accessible to the public. He said if the government could not formulate rules, it should at least establish standard operating procedures.

Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmed Jajja referred to a Supreme Court order concerning sheesha cafes, adding that the apex court had previously imposed a ban on such establishments in a suo motu case. The Islamabad police submitted a report denying allegations of negligence and inaction.

According to the report, police registered 28 cases relating to hookah violations at 10 police stations between January 1 and July 15, 2026, naming 119 individuals. Another 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 implemented against sheesha cafes and narcotics. Measures included intelligence-based patrolling around educational institutions, hostels, parks and bus stands, surveillance of cafes by special teams, decoy operations and integration of CCTV cameras at commercial premises with the Safe City system.

The report also referred to the “Nasha Ab Nahin” awareness campaign, launched on April 26, 2024, and said citizens could report illegal establishments through the 1-Info application and other channels.

The petitioner’s counsel told the court that enforcement teams often faced resistance during operations and suggested that keeping the cafes closed for 15 to 20 days would provide sufficient time to finalise the regulations.

A written order regarding the chamber proceedings will be issued later.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2026