Failing to implement court directives to ban Shisha cafes and import of shisha ingredients, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered two federal secretaries, Health Ministry and Commerce Ministry to appear in person in the matter. Resuming the hearing of a suo motu case against illegal shisha cafes in the country, a three-member judge bench of Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali expressed dismay over non-compliance of the court directives in letter and in spirit.
Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali observed orders of the court have not been complied instead corrupt elements are enjoying benefit of it as the extortion rates have been increased from 0.1 million rupees to 0.5 million rupees. The bench categorically remarked it was beyond comprehension as to what is the intention of the federation in the matter in hand saying the government was granted one month time to submit reply but no attention has been paid in this regard.
He further remarked order of the court was made a mockery as monthlies have increased, adding the federation immediately passes ordinances of their own interest but adopts a lethargic attitude in a matter of public importance. Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali remarked Shisha cafes are being run in Boat Basin and Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Karachi, saying in absence of the federation can no ban be imposed on the cafes.
Responding to argument of a provincial law office, a member of the bench Justice Azmat Saeed observed financial implications should not be examined like a 'teenager', adding the federation does not know whether to impose ban or not on import of Shisha despite the passage of a decade in the instant case. Advocate General for Balochistan apprised the court that the bill against Shisha was passed by provincial assembly while law officer for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that the bill pertaining to Shisha ban has been passed by provincial cabinet and the matter is sent to provincial assembly's secretary.
Issuing directives to federal secretaries of Health and Commerce to appear in person before the court for explanation as to why steps have not been taken to impose ban on Shisha import, the bench adjourned the hearing till next week.
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