KARACHI: In a sweeping crackdown against cafes offering illegal sheesha, police claimed to have arrested around three dozen suspects, including eight women, in multiple raids in the DHA area on Sunday.

A ban on sheesha smoking in public places has been implemented across the province since 2011.

The police said that the targeted raids were conducted within the jurisdictions of the Darakhshan, Clifton and Boat Basin police stations and as a result 33 individuals were arrested and 14 such cafes were sealed.

Darakhshan police raided four cafes, from which a total of 16 sheesha set-ups were recovered. The police also claimed to have recovered a pistol and a rifle from a cafe located in the Muslim Commercial area. Twenty-six individuals, including eight women, were taken into custody from that establishment alone, a statement said.

Similar operations were carried out in Boat Basin, where police raided multiple cafes. They also seized 13 sheesha pipes during the raids and six FIRs were registered under Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 278 (making atmosphere noxious to health) of the Pakistan Penal Code. However, the exact number of arrests was not disclosed, the statement added.

The Clifton police raided four cafes and seized 16 sheesha set-ups along with flavored tobacco. Seven individuals were arrested and four cases were registered, it added.

DIG-South Syed Asad Raza confirmed the arrests and said that 14 cafes were sealed in Clifton and Defence. “There is no evidence to suggest the use or sale of drugs under the guise of sheesha cafés,” he added.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2025