Javed Chaudhry is one of Pakistan’s most recognized journalists and Urdu columnists, best known for his long-running “Zero Point” column series and for hosting the political talk show Kal Tak on Express News for nearly two decades. In 2026, Chaudhry made headlines again — first for his abrupt departure from Express News in late 2025, and then for joining SAMAA TV in August 2026 for a new show alongside anchor Abdul Sattar Khan. This Javed Chaudhry biography covers his life, career, controversies, and current status.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Javed Chaudhry |
| Date of Birth | January 1, 1968 |
| Age | 58 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Village Shah Sarmast, Kharian Tehsil, Gujrat District, Punjab, Pakistan (some profiles cite nearby Lalamusa, Gujrat — sources vary) |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Religion | Islam |
| Education | Mass Communication degree, Islamia University of Bahawalpur (1991); short courses at Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University; honorary PhD from Islamia University, Bahawalpur (2023) |
| Profession | Journalist, columnist, TV anchor, YouTuber |
| Known For | “Zero Point” column series; Kal Tak (Express News, 2006–2025) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Reported as “two sons” by some profiles, “four children” by others |
| Social Handles | YouTube: Javed Chaudhry Official; Facebook: Javed Chaudhry (millions of followers); Instagram and X/Twitter accounts also active |
Who Is Javed Chaudhry?
Javed Chaudhry is a Pakistani journalist, columnist, and television anchor whose career in Urdu print journalism spans more than three decades. He built his national reputation primarily through his Zero Point column, published in Daily Jang and later Daily Express, and cemented it further with Kal Tak, a nightly current-affairs talk show that became a fixture of Pakistani political television.
Beyond print and television, Chaudhry has also built a large YouTube and social media following, positioning himself as one of Pakistan’s most consistently visible media personalities across three different formats: newspaper columns, TV talk shows, and digital video content.
Early Life & Family
Chaudhry was born on January 1, 1968, to Chaudhry Muhammad Khan, in the village of Shah Sarmast in Kharian Tehsil, Gujrat District, Punjab. He comes from a Gujjar Punjabi family. Details about his wife and the exact number of his children are inconsistently reported across biography sites, and no confirmed statement from Chaudhry himself was found; these should be treated as unverified until confirmed.
Education
Chaudhry graduated from the Islamia University of Bahawalpur with a degree in Mass Communication. He later attended short courses at Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University related to media management and creative writing. In November 2023, Islamia University of Bahawalpur awarded him an honorary PhD in recognition of his journalism career.
Career
Early Journalism (1989/1991–1997)
Chaudhry began his journalism career in the late 1980s/early 1990s, working at Daily Khabrain and Daily Ummat. This period laid the foundation for his later columnist career.
The Daily Jang Years and “Zero Point” (1997–2006)
In 1997, Chaudhry joined Daily Jang and began writing under the “Zero Point” banner. The All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) named him Best Urdu Columnist in both 1997 and 1998, largely on the strength of a column titled “Madeenay Ka Shaheed,” written about the assassination of Hakim Mohammed Said. During this period, he became one of the most-read Urdu columnists in Pakistan. His compiled columns were later published as the multi-volume “Zero Point” book series, which became bestsellers.
Express News and “Kal Tak” (2006–2025)
Chaudhry moved to Express News in 2006 — a shift that drew criticism from some former Jang colleagues at the time. He began hosting Kal Tak, a nightly political talk show, around 2008, and it went on to become one of Pakistan’s most-watched current-affairs programs for nearly two decades. During this run he interviewed major political and international figures, including Malala Yousafzai, former President Pervez Musharraf, Imran Khan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Since 2010, he also wrote English-language columns for The Express Tribune. In 2023, he was awarded Pakistan’s civil honor Sitara-i-Imtiaz for his services to journalism, followed by the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2025.
End of the Express News Era (November 2025)
In early November 2025, Chaudhry abruptly signed off from Kal Tak after 18 years with Express News. Reports at the time — including from journalist Zahid Gishkori — indicated Chaudhry was told by channel management that his “journey ends with Express TV from now,” with no official reason disclosed. Chaudhry gave an emotional farewell broadcast, thanking colleagues and viewers and apologizing for any past mistakes, and said his future plans would be shared after a short wait. The exit was widely covered in Pakistani media and triggered speculation across social media about internal disagreements at Express News, though no confirmed cause was established.
Awards & Recognition
- Best Urdu Columnist, APNS (1997, 1998)
- Excellency Award, Government of Pakistan (1998)
- Honorary PhD, Islamia University of Bahawalpur (2023)
- Sitara-i-Imtiaz (2023)
- Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (2025)
Controversies
Chaudhry has faced criticism at several points in his career:
- 2012 — Victim-blaming column: He faced backlash over an April 1 column in Daily Express that critics said engaged in victim-blaming.
- 2018 — Bushra Bibi/Imran Khan claim: In a column widely read as satirical, Chaudhry claimed Bushra Bibi married Imran Khan after being directed to in a dream. Bushra Bibi publicly and directly denied this account.
- 2019 — Disputed NAB chairman interview: Chaudhry published what he described as an interview with then-NAB chairman Javed Iqbal in his column; NAB publicly stated no such interview was given and called the report false.
- 2021 — On-air altercation: During a Kal Tak segment, a physical confrontation broke out between PPP’s Qadir Mandokhail and PTI’s Firdous Ashiq Awan; Chaudhry was criticized by some commentators for not intervening more quickly.
- 2023 — Marwat-Afnan scuffle: A physical altercation between PTI’s Sher Afzal Marwat and PML-N’s Afnan Ullah Khan occurred live on Kal Tak. Chaudhry later said his team had no time to prevent it, noting a similar incident had happened before in 2021.
These are documented media incidents; none have resulted in confirmed legal action against Chaudhry based on available reporting.
Personal Life
Chaudhry has reportedly traveled to over 113 countries and maintains an active YouTube presence beyond his news work, including channels focused on political commentary (“Neutral by Javed Chaudhry”), personal development (“Mind Changer”), and travel. As of recent profiles, he resides in Shahzad Town, Islamabad.
Javed Chaudhry in 2026
Following his November 2025 exit from Express News, Chaudhry’s next move became one of the most-discussed stories in Pakistani media circles for months. In August 2026, he resurfaced on SAMAA TV, joining for an exclusive new show alongside anchor Abdul Sattar Khan. The move puts Chaudhry back on prime-time television after roughly nine months away from a regular anchor slot, and it comes amid broader turbulence in Pakistan’s TV news industry in 2026, including channel suspensions, journalist arrests under cyberlaw, and industry-wide layoffs reported by outlets like JournalismPakistan through mid-2026.
FAQs
1. What is Javed Chaudhry’s real name?
Javed Chaudhry is his full and commonly used name; no separate birth or stage name is publicly documented.
2. How old is Javed Chaudhry?
He was born on January 1, 1968, making him 58 years old as of 2026.
3. Why did Javed Chaudhry leave Express News?
He signed off from Kal Tak in November 2025 after 18 years. Reports indicated Express management told him his time with the channel had ended, but no official reason was publicly confirmed.
4. What is Javed Chaudhry doing now, in 2026?
He joined SAMAA TV in August 2026 for a new show with anchor Abdul Sattar Khan, marking his return to television after leaving Express News.
5. What is Javed Chaudhry famous for?
He is best known for his “Zero Point” Urdu column series and for hosting Kal Tak, a leading Pakistani political talk show, for nearly two decades.
6. Did Javed Chaudhry win any awards?
Yes — he received Pakistan’s Sitara-i-Imtiaz in 2023 and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2025, along with an honorary PhD from Islamia University of Bahawalpur.
Last updated: August 2026
