Islamabad : Islamabad sees surge in illegal shishacafes as drug use persists; youth, students drawn to cafes amid weak law enforcement

“Islamabad is witnessing a sharp rise in illegal shisha cafes, where drug use reportedly continues unchecked. These cafes, frequented by young people, often serve as gateways to drug-fueled parties, yet local authorities and police appear powerless against the influence of well-connected mafias.

Unperturbed, young students head to these cafes each evening, with little fear of consequences. Although the police conduct occasional raids, they rarely produce meaningful results. Seized items from these cafes are seldom deposited with the District Commissioner’s office; instead, sources allege that officers sell the confiscated goods at high prices.”

By Special Correspondent

Islamabad: The federal capital has become a hotspot for illegal shisha cafes, which are allegedly exposing young people to a world of drugs and exploitation under the guise of entertainment.

Despite orders from the high courts, local authorities and police appear ineffective in enforcing regulations, with only symbolic actions taken against a few recently established cafes.

Sources report that in upscale areas such as F-6, F-7, F-10, F-11, E-11, Bahria Town Phase 4, and Golra, hundreds of shisha cafes operate openly, with drugs being used on the premises. Young men and women, including students, reportedly engage in unethical activities without fear of repercussions. These cafes are allegedly not only places for casual drug use but also serve as recruitment hubs for parties where drugs are readily available to underage individuals.

Powerful figures are believed to back these shisha cafes, including influential political personalities, police and administrative officials, relatives of judiciary members, media representatives, and close associates of security agencies. This alleged support has enabled the cafes to continue operations while authorities turn a blind eye or conduct superficial raids to show compliance with the law.

An inquiry by Digital Post with the District Commissioner’s (DC) office revealed that confiscated items from these cafes, such as shisha pipes and flavors, are rarely, if ever, deposited with the relevant branch. An official noted that the police seldom submit reports of seized goods, and there is no record of these items at the DC’s warehouse. According to sources, seized items are often returned to cafe owners for a hefty bribe or sold by complicit police officers.

DC office magistrates informed Digital Post that there is no legal provision for returning hazardous items, raising questions about how such materials are being released back to the cafes.

Concerned citizens are now calling on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police to take decisive and impartial action against the shisha cafes, demanding accountability for those fostering drug use and exploitation among the city’s youth.