The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed all provincial governments to chalk out legislations to limit cigarette and sheesha sale.
A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Umar Atta Bandial was hearing the suo moto case pertaining to sheesha parlours.
All four provincial advocate generals maintained that their governments are serious in limiting cigarette sale and ending sheesha cafes. They said that different steps have been taken in this regard.
Justice Bandial said that it is the government’s responsibility to enact laws in the matter. The court further directed the provincial governments to continue crackdown against illegal sheesha cafes.
The hearing was adjourned for an indefinite period.
In November 2015, Punjab government had informed the SC that all district coordination officers (DCO) were issued directives for taking action against the illegal cafes.
The SC was told that around 19 cases were registered in 2015 while at least 134 owners apprehended for violating the law.
By early November, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Anwar Zaheer Jamali had ordered the provincial governments to compile a comprehensive report in the matter.
