The secret to Pakistan’s handsome “Chaiwala” Arshad Khan’s beauty has been exposed—it’s Afghan jalebi.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) dropped a bombshell at the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench, declaring the viral tea seller an Afghan national, not Pakistani.
The drama unfolded as Arshad Khan, whose striking blue eyes and steaming chai captivated the internet in 2016, challenged the blocking of his Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) and passport.
NADRA’s report, citing intelligence from the ISI and IB, pointed to discrepancies in Khan’s parental records—his father, Zar Muhammad, hails from Sargodha, but his mother’s name dances across documents like a poorly steeped blend. A show-cause notice followed, halting Khan’s documents.
Khan’s lawyer, Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani, argued that his client embodies the Pakistani dream, rising from a humble Islamabad dhaba to global fame, with Café Chaiwala now charming South London. Demanding pre-1978 residency proof, Gilani quipped, reeks of “mala fide intent.”
Justice Jawad Hassan, presiding with a cool head, granted Arshad Khan until April 22 to serve up evidence of his Pakistani roots, adjourning the hearing.
As X buzzes with posts like “Chaiwala an Afghan? Say it ain’t so!” and some of patreons are left wondering if they’ve been served some “ghaddar chai”. Khan’s saga stirs debate. Will the blue-eyed barista keep his Pakistani brew, or face deportation? For now, the kettle’s on, and the nation’s watching.
