LAHORE – The sale, purchase and use of sheesha (hookah) and the flavoured tobacco used in it is on the rise even though there is ban on smoking it in public places. The ban was slapped by government on the orders of Lahore High Court in 2012.
It is illegal for all under the age of 18 to buy cigarettes, tobacco, flavoured tobacco used for sheesha and other drugs for their personal use from the market.
On Oct 22, 2012, the LHC ordered the government to impose ban on Shisha (Hookah) Cafes and smoking in public places. The LHC bench headed by Chief Justice Umer Ata Bandyal passed the order on a petition for the implementation of anti-smoking law and also directed the authorities to take action against the violators. The implementation of the ban has been very strictly followed. No Sheesha Cafes are operating in the city.
Tobacco for sheesha is available in a number of flavours including coconut, blueberry, grapes, cardamom and strawberry, apple and apricot. The flavoured tobacco (small pack) is available ranges between Rs 100 to Rs 150 per packet. A 250 mg packet of flavored tobacco is available at the price of Rs 450 at all tobacco shops and leading departmental stores. Sheesha’s rates vary from size to size. A small size sheesha costs Rs 800. The cost goes up when you go for trendier and better quality sheeshas. The cost of best available Sheesha in the market was Rs 8,000.
On Thursday the Supreme Court ordered all the provinces to launch crackdown against sheesha cafes to save the coming generations and sought report on the next hearing.
During the hearing, Advocate General Punjab told the court that the relevant law does not exist. He stated that a bill “the Punjab Prohibition of Sheesha Smoking Bill” was presented in the Punjab Assembly in 2014 but it has not been passed.
20-year-old Asher Azeem, student of BA in a local college, had come to buy flavoured tobacco from a shop in Shadman told this scribe that he was buying it for use at a friend’s home. “I believe there is no harm in smoking it once a while. It is not illegal if we do it at home. It is not the same as taking drugs.
“Earlier we used to smoke sheesha while we played mini golf at the Bank Alfalah Park in Gulberg near Kalma Chowk. There was no hindrance but now we are seen as if we are doing something bad. Why not check smoking at public places in the same way?” Asher was of the view.
The law experts believe that the courts can take notice directly on the use of narcotics and sheesha but the government should make a comprehensive law on it.
Yesterday senior lawyer and member of the Pakistan Bar Council Akhtar Hussain said government should regulate all such illegal substances with a comprehensive law; what type of drug is being used in Sheesha and what quantity does it contain.
“Unless and until the government regulates it by introducing a comprehensive law the use of sheesha and smoking of drugs cannot be stopped in the society,” says Mr. Hussain.
Advocate Azhar Siddique said LHC and SC can take notice of the use of sheesha by underage children, on the basis of violation of fundamental rights under Article 9 and 14 of the Constitution.