Islamabad, 22 Apr, 2025: The viral internet sensation known as the “blue-eyed Chaiwala’s Citizenship,” Arshad Khan, is once again in the spotlight this time, not for his charm or chai, but for a controversy surrounding his nationality.
Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has informed the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench that Arshad Khan is allegedly an Afghan national, rather than a Pakistani citizen.
This revelation emerged during a hearing where Khan had challenged the cancellation of his national identity documents.
The dispute began after NADRA, citing intelligence reports from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), questioned inconsistencies in Khan’s familial documentation.
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According to the agency, while his father is registered as a Pakistani from Sargodha, the records concerning his mother do not match, casting doubt over his claim to citizenship.
Following this, NADRA issued a show-cause notice to Khan and suspended his Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) and passport, prompting the legal challenge.
Khan’s legal counsel, Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani, argued that his client is a symbol of the Pakistani dream rising from a modest tea stall in Islamabad to international fame.
He pointed to Khan’s London-based café business, “Café Chaiwala,” as evidence of his commitment and contribution to the country’s image abroad.
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Gilani also criticized the requirement to produce pre-1978 residency proof, calling it unreasonable and discriminatory.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Jawad Hassan granted Khan until April 22 to provide evidence confirming his Pakistani origin. Until then, the case remains under review.
The debate has spilled onto social media, with many expressing disbelief and humor over the possibility that the country’s beloved chaiwala might not be Pakistani after all.
The story continues to stir both public sentiment and legal debate.
