ISLAMABAD:
Piyass International, a non-profit organisation, by taking a landmark step against the drug menace infiltrating youth circles in the guise of modern leisure, has joined hands with the Crime and Investigative Reporters Association (CIRA) to initiate legal proceedings against the alleged drug mafia operating under the cover of Sheesha cafes throughout the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
This joint initiative, a petition in the Islamabad High Court ( IHC), marks a rare and bold civil society action in a bid to bring to justice those believed to be engaged in the open violation of Pakistan’s legal and moral codes, particularly targeting the vulnerable youth. The petition has accused the Sheesha cafes of becoming fronts for the distribution of potent narcotics such as ice (crystal meth), marijuana, weed, and cocaine, thereby exacerbating the drug crisis in the federal capital.
The legal motion being submitted in the IHC is anchored on the precedent established in Supreme Court of Pakistan’s sou motu case no. 11/2006, in which a ruling dated October 19, 2016, unequivocally banned the operation of Sheesha cafes and underscored the state’s responsibility to eliminate drug use in public and private venues.
Despite this clear directive, a recent survey conducted jointly by Piyass International and CIRA reveals that such cafes are not only still functioning but are also flagrantly defying Supreme Court orders, highlighting the “shocking apathy” on the part of the ICT Administration.
Talking to media, Rana Imran Latif, Chairman of both Piyass International and CIRA and a seasoned journalist, voiced deep concern over the local administration’s failure to clamp down on what he called the “narcotics trade hidden behind trendy smoke lounges.”
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2539695/sheesha-cafes-face-legal-action-over-drug-links
