Notices issued in Arshad Chaiwala’s petition seeking renewal of passport

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) recently sought input from the Directorate General Immigration and Passports, as well as the federal government, on a petition challenging the non-renewal of Arshad Khan's passport. Khan, widely known as 'Arshad Chaiwala', gained popularity after a photograph of him at a tea stall in Islamabad went viral on social media.

During the court hearing, Barrister Umar Ijaz Gilani represented Khan, arguing that his client was a renowned entrepreneur who had promoted Pakistani culture on a global scale. Gilani pointed out that the petitioner's passport renewal application, submitted on August 20, 2025, had not been processed despite several attempts.

According to the petition, Khan's identity card had been cleared by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Verification Board, and his CNIC remained active. Gilani contended that there was no valid reason for withholding the passport renewal when Khan's identity had already been verified by the relevant authorities.

Over the course of multiple visits to the Interior Secretary's office, Gilani alleged that no constructive response was received from the authorities. In response, the petitioner filed a legal notice with the Interior Secretary, but still received no satisfactory answer. The attorney argued that the refusal to issue a renewed passport was illegal and violated Khan's fundamental rights. He requested the court to mandate the concerned authorities to issue a new passport to Arshad Khan.