Arshad Khan "Chaiwala" Moves Court After CNIC, Passport Blocked Over Citizenship Doubts

  

Arshad Khan, popularly known as the "Chaiwala" whose photo went viral while selling tea in an Islamabad market at the age of 17, has approached the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench after his national identity card (CNIC) and passport were blocked by authorities questioning his Pakistani citizenship.

According to court documents, both the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Passport Office blocked Khan’s identity documents after he allegedly failed to provide sufficient evidence of his citizenship. NADRA is reportedly demanding proof of residency dating back to before 1978 — a requirement Khan's legal team claims is baseless and driven by mala fide intentions.

Khan filed a constitutional petition through Advocate Umar Ijaz Gillani, asserting that the move has jeopardized his career and personal reputation. The petition argues that the arbitrary blocking of his CNIC and passport without proper legal basis violates the Registration Authority Ordinance, 2002.

In a recent hearing, Justice Jawad Hassan of the Lahore High Court issued notices to NADRA and related authorities, directing them to appear before the court on April 17 with complete records. The judge also sought a detailed report and para-wise comments from the concerned officials.

The government counsel contended that the documents were blocked because Arshad Khan failed to produce valid proof of citizenship. However, Khan’s lawyer argued that the demand for pre-1978 documentation is unreasonable and has caused unnecessary harm to his client’s reputation and livelihood.

Arshad Khan rose to fame in 2016 after a candid photo of him preparing tea at a local stall went viral on social media, turning him into a national sensation and launching his modeling and entrepreneurial career.

As the legal proceedings unfold, Khan hopes the court will restore his identity documents and clear the doubts surrounding his nationality — a controversy that has placed his career and public image under threat.