Arshad Khan, famously known as the “Chaiwala,” is facing serious challenges to his identity and citizenship status as authorities have blocked his national ID card and passport due to his inability to present evidence of Pakistani citizenship.
Khan, who gained international attention after a photo of him selling tea at an Islamabad market went viral when he was just 17 years old, is now under scrutiny amid reports suggesting he may be an Afghan citizen.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports took action by blocking his identity documents, leading Khan to seek legal recourse. Justice Jawad Hassan of the Lahore High Court has issued notices to the federal government and other respondents following Khan’s petition.
Represented by Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani, Khan invoked Article 199 of the Constitution to challenge the authorities’ actions, arguing that the blocking of his identity documents was both unlawful and unconstitutional.
During the hearing, Gilani highlighted Khan’s remarkable rise from modest beginnings to global fame, emphasizing that the actions of NADRA and other authorities had not only jeopardized his career prospects but also tarnished his reputation.
