The Sindh government has issued a directive to the Karachi police, urging them to halt crackdowns on sheesha cafes due to the absence of specific legislation targeting such establishments.
Police sources reveal that senior officers have been instructed by the Sindh government that there is no legislation in place against sheesha cafes. While Karachi police officers have previously conducted crackdowns, raids, and arrests targeting these cafes, they will no longer do so in light of the government’s directive.
Despite crackdowns in recent years, sheesha cafes remain prevalent in various areas of Karachi. Instead of shutting them down completely, Karachi police resorted to collecting weekly and monthly fees from these establishments. However, following clear directives from the Sindh government, police are now instructed to cease crackdowns and assign officers outside sheesha cafes to prevent drug use among young people. If any illegal activities, particularly drug use, are discovered within Sheesha cafes, legal action will be taken against the cafe owners, and they will face arrest.
Karachi police authorities have confirmed that officers have been deployed outside sheesha cafes in South and East zones to monitor activities and prevent negative incidents. However, if sheesha cafes are solely used for smoking sheesha, they will not face any action, and the owners will not be harassed by the police.
Maria Ghanchi