'Chaiwala' in hot water over citizenship dispute

Arshad Khan, popularly known as the 'Chaiwala' who rose to global fame on social media due to his striking blue eyes and humble tea-selling background in Islamabad, is facing mounting legal troubles.

On Wednesday, the Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi Bench postponed the hearing of Khan's petition challenging the blocking of his national identity card and passport.

Justice Jawad Hassan adjourned the case until April 22 after the petitioner's counsel requested additional time to prepare a response.

During the hearing, lawyers representing the assistant attorney general and Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) submitted written reports to the court.

The reports revealed that NADRA had sought detailed investigations from two major intelligence agencies — Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

According to both agencies, Arshad Khan is an Afghan national, who was born and raised in Afghanistan and has no legal ties to Pakistani citizenship.

The reports emphasised that no foreign national is entitled to hold or benefit from Pakistani identity documents such as a CNIC or passport. NADRA stated that Khan was asked to provide evidence proving his presence, birth, residence, or ownership of property in Pakistan prior to 1978 — but failed to do so.

Based on these findings, NADRA defended its earlier decision to cancel and block Khan's identity documents and said a notice was lawfully served, directing him to leave Pakistan.

In response, Khan's lawyer requested copies of the intelligence reports and NADRA's written reply.

The court accepted the request for additional time and ordered final arguments to be presented at the next hearing on April 22.

In his petition, Khan claimed he had been selling tea in Islamabad and argued that the cancellation of his identity documents had harmed his reputation.

He requested the court to recognise him as a Pakistani citizen and restore his blocked CNIC and passport.