Arslan Siddique, also known as Arslan Ash, is a name that has become synonymous with greatness in Tekken 7 and a source of inspiration for the Pakistani gaming community.
Ash, having won the Evo championship four times, has carved his name in gaming history, bringing Pakistan under the spotlight in the global e-sports scene.
However, Ash recently took to X, formerly Twitter, to vent his frustration about holding a Pakistani passport, which currently ranks 100th in the Passport Rankings, trailing even behind Yemen and Somalia at 99th place.
Sometimes, I really wish I didn't have a Pakistani passport
— Arslan Ash (@ArslanAsh95) September 5, 2023
Taking to X, Ash, who also claimed a $500,000 prize at the Nations Cup in South Korea in July, stated, “Sometimes, I really wish I didn’t have a Pakistani passport.”
His statement stemmed from his reported struggles, including visa rejections and travel difficulties when representing Pakistan in gaming competitions abroad.
Ash’s words produced a mixed response across social media platforms. Some empathized with his challenges and shared their own feelings of hopelessness, while others reminded him of his successful travels to countries like Japan and South Korea with a Pakistani passport where he bagged multiple titles.
Here are some of the responses:
Us Ash bhai us https://t.co/cPxMlqNucn
— اریشه (@formallyactive) September 6, 2023
this is so saddening man. best E-Sports player in the world is saying this, of course knowing his struggles and all https://t.co/K9rc2WLPbr
— Meer Memon (@obsessivelyever) September 6, 2023
The greatest Tekken player ever and even he cant avoid the problems of Pakistani passport https://t.co/ChlpDhtHqP
— Darth Awan (@gooner_saad) September 5, 2023
Bohat taraqqi ho rahi hai. Our top e-gamers can't get visas for competitions. https://t.co/Mprr60dIKa
— Rizwan (@Rizwow) September 5, 2023
This is the passport that you went to Japan. When you get success then they show truly colour everyone thinking like you but don't show your thoughts on social media that's embarrassing for us and show your character https://t.co/jEA94KS1LZ
— Ubaidrehman (@Ubaidrehman1874) September 6, 2023
Ash’s reasons for expressing these views about Pakistani passport are yet to be revealed, but it is possible that he was denied a visa, given recent reports.
hey netizens. he also has the right to express his genuine feelings. pakis ke pas bas aik yehe argument h dont embarrass us. u shd b embarrased. im surprised what took him so long to realize this.