Pakistan’s Viral Chaiwala, Arshad Khan, who hit the headlines in 2016, is back in the spotlight again. He had previously gained national attention after a viral photo of him serving tea at a street-side stall went viral. The Internet couldn’t resist his blue eyes then, and he quickly turned into an iconic figure. Life has been a rollercoaster for Khan. He rose from humble beginnings, and in 2024, raised Rs 10 million investment on Shark Tank Pakistan.
He pitched his brand Chaiwala & Co. there, a tea brand that offers authentic Pakistani chai with a unique blend of cultural experience. However, it turns out that his journey from viral sensation to successful business owner has taken a worse turn since then. He has created a media buzz yet again after Pakistani authorities reportedly suspended his passport and national identity card.
‘Chaiwala’ Lands In Legal Trouble
Here’s what happened! ‘Chaiwala’ Arshad Khan has landed in legal trouble and spends most of his time in the local courts proving his identity as a Pakistani. According to reports, his father is a Pashtun of Afghan province, while his mother is a Pakistani. He was born in 1999 in Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Khan Challenges Blocking Of His NIC And Passport
Reports mentioned that Khan has challenged the blocking of his NIC and Pakistani passport in the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench. The next hearing is scheduled on April 22, after Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) sought more time to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
ISI And IB Claim ‘He is An Afghan National’
The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) claim that the chaiwala is an Afghan national. They added that he was born in Afghanistan and has no legal documents to prove that he is a Pakistani citizen.
What NADRA Says?
On the other hand, NADRA officials said that Arshad Khan had failed to provide evidence of his identity, birth, residence, or property ownership in Pakistan before 1978. Meanwhile, they maintained that as no proof was provided, the CNIC and passport of Arshad Khan were cancelled, and a legal notice was also sent, directing him to leave the country.
Khan Contests That His Reputation Is Harmed
In Khan’s petition, it has been contested that he has been selling tea in Islamabad and that the cancellation of his identity documents has harmed and affected his reputation, reports added.
Story Of Arshad ‘chaiwala’
It was like any other normal day for Arshad Khan at his tea stall back in 2016 when a photographer, Javeria Ali, clicked his photo and posted it on social media. The photo quickly went viral, capturing the attention of both women and men for his stunning looks, especially his blue eyes. He tea stall soon turned into a bigger business. By 2023, he opened his outlet in London.
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