Supreme Court (SC) has directed all provincial governments to chalk out legislation to limit cigarette and sheesha sale.
Two-member bench headed by Justice Umar Atta Bandial heard suo moto case pertaining to sheesha parlours.
All four provincial advocate generals maintained that their governments are serious over limiting cigarette sale and ending sheesha cafes. They said that different steps have been taken in this regard, they said.
Justice Bandyal said that it is 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 of time.
In November 2015, Punjab government had informed the Supreme Court that all district coordination officers (DCO) were issued directives of taking action against the illegal cafes.
The Supreme Court 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.
