The Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench has ordered the restoration of Arshad Khan’s national identity card, popularly known as the “Chaiwala.”
Following the court’s directive, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) reinstated Arshad Khan’s CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card). NADRA’s verification board also officially confirmed Arshad Khan’s Pakistani citizenship.
According to lawyer Umair Ijaz Gilani, the verification board’s findings established that both Arshad Khan and his family are Pakistani nationals.
The court observed that blocking a citizen’s ID card or passport without due process is a violation of constitutional rights.
The court concluded the case after granting the petitioner’s request for relief.
Arshad Khan became a social media sensation in 2016 after a candid photo of him serving tea in Islamabad went viral, earning him the nickname “Chaiwala.” His popularity led to modeling contracts and interviews, turning him into a well-known public figure.
Earlier, NADRA had blocked his passport and CNIC, reportedly over questions related to his citizenship, prompting the legal challenge. With the court’s ruling, his identity has been restored, reaffirming his status as a Pakistani citizen.
