Iqrar Ul Hassan is a Pakistani investigative journalist, television presenter, and now politician, best known for hosting ARY News’ long-running investigative show Sar-e-Aam. In 2026, after 21 years with ARY News, Iqrar Ul Hassan made headlines nationwide by resigning from journalism to launch his own political party, Pakistan Awaam Raaj Tehreek. This Iqrar Ul Hassan biography covers his age, family, three marriages, career timeline, controversies, and his current political journey.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Syed Iqrar Ul Hassan |
| Date of Birth | 29 May 1984 |
| Age | 41 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Religion | Islam |
| Education | Government College University (GCU), Lahore |
| Profession | Journalist, TV Host, Politician |
| Known For | Sar-e-Aam (ARY News), founder of Pakistan Awaam Raaj Tehreek (PART) |
| Spouse(s) | Qurat-ul-Ain (m. 2005), Farah Yousuf (m. 2012), Aroosa Khan (m. 2023) |
| Social Handles | Instagram: @iqrarulhassan (~3M followers); X/Twitter: @iqrarulhassan (~2.6M followers) |
Who Is Iqrar Ul Hassan?
Iqrar Ul Hassan is one of Pakistan’s most recognizable media figures, having spent more than two decades at ARY News before pivoting into full-time politics in 2026. He rose from a newscaster hired straight out of open auditions to becoming the face of Sar-e-Aam, a hard-hitting investigative program known for exposing corruption, adulteration, and fraud through undercover sting operations.
His public profile has always extended beyond journalism — his personal life, including three marriages, has regularly drawn as much attention as his reporting. In 2026, that public profile took a sharp turn when he resigned from ARY to lead a self-founded political movement, becoming one of the most talked-about crossover figures in Pakistani media and politics this year.
Early Life & Family
Iqrar Ul Hassan was born in Lahore, Punjab. According to widely circulated accounts, his father, Ismail Shah, was connected to broadcast media, which is often cited as an early influence on his interest in journalism. He grew up in Lahore before later relocating to Karachi as his ARY News career developed.
He is the father of Pehlaaj Hassan, his son from his first marriage, who has appeared publicly as a child actor.
Education
Iqrar Ul Hassan attended Government College University (GCU) in Lahore. Some sources describe his degree as being in political science, while others describe it as journalism-related. Either way, his education is consistently tied to GCU Lahore across sources.
Career
2005–2011: Entry into ARY News
Iqrar Ul Hassan was selected from thousands of applicants in a 2005 Lahore audition for ARY News, one of only two candidates hired from that round. He began as a newscaster, initially posted to ARY’s Dubai bureau before the network’s operations shifted, and later moved to Karachi as ARY’s headquarters relocated there.
2012–2026: Rise of Sar-e-Aam
Iqrar Ul Hassan became the host of Sar-e-Aam, ARY News’ flagship investigative program, which aired weekly and became known for undercover sting operations targeting corrupt officials, adulterated food products, fake businesses, and fraud. The show turned him into one of the most recognized investigative journalists in the country and covered major national events during his tenure, including the 2007 Lal Masjid operation, the lawyers’ movement, and the 2014 Army Public School tragedy in Peshawar.
April 2026: Resignation from ARY News
On 15 April 2026, Iqrar Ul Hassan announced his resignation from ARY News in an emotional video message addressed to ARY Chairman Salman Iqbal, ending a 21-year association with the network. He described the decision as difficult but deliberate, framing it as a shift from exposing problems through journalism to attempting to fix them through direct political engagement.
January–2026: Launch of Pakistan Awaam Raaj Tehreek (PART)
Before formally leaving ARY, Iqrar Ul Hassan launched his own political party, Pakistan Awaam Raaj Tehreek (PART — “Pakistan People’s Rule Movement”), at a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on 15 January 2026. He stated publicly, invoking a religious oath, that he would never accept any party or government office himself, positioning the party as merit-based and free of “hereditary” leadership control, in contrast to Pakistan’s dominant political dynasties. The party describes itself as centrist to centre-right and headquartered in Lahore.
Major Awards & Recognition
Iqrar Ul Hassan has been credited in various roundups as a recipient of investigative-journalism recognition, including references to a “Best Investigative Journalist” honor at Pakistan media award ceremonies
Controversies
2016 Sindh Assembly arrest: On 29 April 2016, Iqrar Ul Hassan and his Sar-e-Aam team were arrested on the orders of the Sindh Home Minister after they exposed security lapses at the Provincial Assembly of Sindh by bringing an armed individual into the premises using media passes. He was released on bail the next day.
2022 alleged torture by Intelligence Bureau officials: In February 2022, Iqrar Ul Hassan publicly accused Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials in Karachi of detaining and torturing him and his team after they attempted to report an IB officer allegedly taking a bribe. He said he suffered a dislocated shoulder and required hospital treatment; five IB officials were subsequently suspended. This is a well-documented incident with consistent reporting across multiple outlets and official confirmation of the suspensions.
2024 clash with Peer Haq Khateeb’s followers: After a Sar-e-Aam segment confronting religious figure Peer Haq Khateeb in Kotli Sattian in February 2024, Iqrar Ul Hassan was reportedly attacked in his car in Gujranwala in May 2024 by unidentified followers of Khateeb.
2026 remarks about Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, and later apology: During his political campaign in 2026, Iqrar Ul Hassan made critical remarks about PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi that drew significant backlash from PTI supporters. He later issued a public video apology around the Eid-ul-Adha period, saying he had said things “out of aggression” that he regretted, and expressed hope to personally apologize to Imran Khan upon his release from jail. This reversal was widely covered as a “U-turn” in Pakistani media.
2026 Lahore Airport confrontation: In April 2026, a video showing Iqrar Ul Hassan in a heated exchange with airport staff — reportedly including a question about a staff member’s political affiliation — went viral and drew mixed public reaction. He later addressed the incident in a video statement giving his side of events.
Marriages and public scrutiny: His three marriages — to Qurat-ul-Ain (2005), Farah Yousuf (2012), and Aroosa Khan (2023) — have remained a recurring subject of public debate. In May 2026, social media posts and photos from an Edinburgh trip involving his wives triggered fresh criticism online, with some commentators contrasting his political “people-first” messaging with his personal lifestyle. Iqrar Ul Hassan has defended his marriages as being within his personal and religious rights.
Personal Life
Iqrar Ul Hassan has been married three times: to Qurat-ul-Ain in 2005, to Farah Yousuf in 2012, and to Aroosa Khan, a former TV host and YouTuber, in 2023. He has one son, Pehlaaj Hassan, from his first marriage. His family life is frequently featured on his and his wives’ social media accounts, which has kept it a subject of continued public interest alongside his professional career.
Net Worth
Public estimates of Iqrar Ul Hassan’s net worth vary widely and are not independently verified. Some entertainment sites place his estimated net worth around $1 million–$1.5 million USD (2025 estimate) based on television hosting, sponsorships, and social media income, while separate social-media-earnings trackers estimate his annual income from digital platforms alone at roughly $185,000–$253,000. These figures are unofficial, algorithmically generated estimates and should be treated as rough approximations rather than confirmed facts.
Iqrar Ul Hassan in 2026
2026 has been the most transformative year of Iqrar Ul Hassan’s public life. He began the year by launching Pakistan Awaam Raaj Tehreek in January, formally resigned from ARY News in April after 21 years to focus on the party full-time, weathered viral controversies over an airport confrontation and his personal life in April–May, and by mid-2026 was navigating a public reversal on his earlier criticism of Imran Khan and PTI. He has stated he will not seek any government or party office himself, instead positioning himself as a movement figurehead focused on youth engagement and anti-corruption messaging. As of August 2026, his political party remains in its early organizing phase, without electoral representation.
FAQs
1. What is Iqrar Ul Hassan’s real name?
His full name is Syed Iqrar Ul Hassan.
2. How old is Iqrar Ul Hassan?
He was born in 1984 and is 41 years old as of 2026, though sources differ on the exact birth date (29 May vs. 29 June).
3. Why did Iqrar Ul Hassan leave ARY News?
He resigned on 15 April 2026 after 21 years with the network to focus full-time on his newly launched political party, Pakistan Awaam Raaj Tehreek.
4. What is Iqrar Ul Hassan’s political party called?
Pakistan Awaam Raaj Tehreek (PART), launched in January 2026.
5. How many times has Iqrar Ul Hassan been married?
Three times — to Qurat-ul-Ain (2005), Farah Yousuf (2012), and Aroosa Khan (2023).
6. Will Iqrar Ul Hassan run for office himself?
No — he has publicly stated, on religious oath, that he will not accept any party or government position.
7. What is Iqrar Ul Hassan’s net worth?
Estimates vary and are unverified, ranging roughly from $1 million–$1.5 million in some entertainment-site estimates; no official figure has been disclosed.
8. Did Iqrar Ul Hassan apologize to Imran Khan?
Yes — in 2026 he issued a public video apology for earlier critical remarks about Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi made during his political campaign.
Last updated: August 2026
