ISI, IB Present Report Declaring Arshad Chai Wala as an Afghan Citizen

The hearing of Arshad Khan, famously known as “Chai Wala,” regarding his citizenship case has been postponed indefinitely by the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench, further complicating the matter. During the proceedings, ISI and IB submitted reports identifying Arshad Khan as an Afghan national.

Justice Jawad Hassan presided over the hearing, while NADRA’s representative requested additional time to submit further details about Arshad Khan. The court granted the extension. Arshad Chai Wala lawyer also sought more time for preparation, which was approved. Deputy Attorney General Sajid Tanoli acted as the government’s representative in court.Hania-Aamir-on-Pahalgam-Terror-Attacks

According to the submitted report, Arshad Khan’s real name is Zar Khan, and his father’s name is Baz Muhammad Khan. The intelligence agencies claim that Arshad holds Afghan citizenship.

However, the petitioner’s stance differs. They argue that Arshad Khan was born in 1999 in Islamabad’s Shah Allah Ditta area and attended a government school there. His father obtained a Pakistani passport in 1984 and moved to Saudi Arabia for work in 1989.

The petition further states that Arshad has been running a tea stall in Islamabad’s Sunday Bazaar since he was around 17. His identity card was issued in 2017 and his passport in 2016, both processed legally by NADRA and the passport office.

The petition maintains that blocking Arshad’s ID card and passport is not only illegal but has also severely harmed his business. His social media fame not only brought global recognition to Pakistan but also benefited the country economically through foreign exchange.

The petitioner argues that Arshad has never traveled to Afghanistan, nor is there any proof of him possessing Afghan documents. He comes from a poor family, and now he is being asked to provide property documents from before 1978—something nearly impossible for an ordinary citizen to produce.

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