The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ordered that every shisha cafe in the capital be shut down completely. Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar issued the directive, stating that the cafes will stay closed until new rules are enacted.
The court also instructed the Islamabad administration to cancel all No Objection Certificates (NOCs) previously granted to these establishments. The IHC will release a detailed written order at a later date.
District administration bars shisha cafes under immediate orders
Before the court ruling, running a shisha cafe had already been banned in Islamabad until further notice. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) passed orders to all assistant commissioners (ACs) in the capital to enforce the restriction.
The district administration said the ban also applies to cafes operating on NOCs. Under the immediate orders, both indoor and outdoor shisha service has been prohibited.
Owners face cases and sealing for violations
The administration warned that a case will be registered against any owner found violating the orders, and the cafe premises will be sealed. It has also directed all ACs to conduct daily inspections and take strict action against shisha cafes.
