Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday sought responses from the Director General Immigration and Passports and the federal government through the Interior Secretary on a petition filed by Arshad Khan, popularly known as ‘Arshad Chaiwala, ‘ against non-renewal of his passport.
Justice Umair Majid Malik heard the petition, with Barrister Umar Ejaz Gilani appearing on behalf of the petitioner. The counsel submitted that Arshad Khan was a well-known entrepreneur who had promoted Pakistani culture internationally.
He said that NADRA’s verification board had cleared the petitioner’s identity card and his CNIC was currently active. The counsel informed the court that Arshad Khan had applied for renewal of his passport on August 20, 2025, but despite the passage of around one year, the renewed passport had not been issued.
He said the petitioner had approached the Interior Secretary’s office several times but received no positive response. He had also served a legal notice on the Interior Secretary, but no response was received.
The petitioner sought directions for issuance of his renewed passport and prayed that the failure to issue the passport be declared unlawful and contrary to his fundamental rights.
Justice Umair Majid Malik remarked that comments from the respondents would first be sought and the matter would then be examined. The court issued notices to the respondents and sought their responses.
