Kashif Abbasi is a Pakistani journalist and television anchor best known for hosting the current-affairs talk show Off the Record on ARY News. Over more than two decades in broadcast and print journalism, he has built a reputation for calm, evidence-based questioning of politicians rather than the shouting-match style common on Pakistani political television. His name resurfaced heavily in the press in 2025–2026 after he was taken off air following a critical on-air remark about parliament, making him one of the more closely watched press-freedom cases in Pakistani media.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Kashif Abbasi |
| Date of Birth | December 10, 1974 |
| Age | 51 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan (some sources say Lahore/Rawalpindi |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Religion | Islam |
| Education | Barani Institute of Information Technology (BIIT), University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi |
| Profession | Journalist, TV Anchor, Columnist |
| Known For | Hosting Off the Record on ARY News |
| Spouse | Meher Bukhari (m. 2011), journalist/anchor |
| Social Handles | X (Twitter): active, reportedly 3.8M+ followers |
Who Is Kashif Abbasi?
Kashif Abbasi is one of Pakistan’s most recognisable political talk-show hosts, known for a measured, fact-driven interviewing style rather than confrontational shouting. He has interviewed a wide range of Pakistani politicians, bureaucrats, and analysts on Off the Record, and has built a career largely around holding officials accountable on live television — a stance that has repeatedly put him at odds with governments, regulators, and, more recently, his own network’s management.
Early Life & Family
Abbasi was born on December 10, 1974, with most profiles placing his birthplace in Jhelum, Punjab, though a few sources cite Lahore or Rawalpindi instead — this detail is inconsistently reported and should be treated as unconfirmed. Details about his father are not widely documented in public sources. His mother, Shahnaz Abbasi, passed away in 2020.
Education
He earned his degree from the Barani Institute of Information Technology (BIIT), affiliated with the University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi — a background in information technology rather than a traditional journalism degree. Some profiles also mention earlier schooling at Lahore Grammar School, though this is not consistently corroborated across sources.
Career
Early Journalism (2000s)
Abbasi entered journalism in the early 2000s as private Pakistani news channels were expanding rapidly, working his way up through smaller outlets before landing an anchor role.
Rise with Off the Record (2011–2019)
Abbasi began hosting Off the Record on ARY News, a prime-time current-affairs program airing Monday to Thursday. The show became one of Pakistan’s most-watched political talk formats, built on his direct but composed questioning style. His work during this period earned him the Most Credible Anchor of the Year award at the 2017 AGAHI Journalism Awards.
PEMRA Ban and Controversy (2020)
In January 2020, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) banned Off the Record for 60 days after then-federal minister Faisal Vawda placed a military boot on the show’s desk during a segment with PPP and PML-N lawmakers, sparking a political and regulatory backlash that extended to the show itself.
Taken Off Air (2025)
On January 21, 2025, Abbasi aired what became his last episode for an extended period, in which he made pointed remarks criticising parliament and constitutional practice, reportedly saying lawmakers were rubber-stamping legislation. Within days, reports emerged that he had been pulled off air; ARY News initially described it as personal leave, but Abbasi did not return to the show for months. In March 2025, ARY News issued an on-air apology distancing itself from his personal opinions on that episode. Press-freedom outlets, including Journalism Pakistan, characterised the episode as part of a broader pattern of pressure on independent-minded anchors in Pakistan.
Return and 2026 Status
According to multiple reports, Abbasi resurfaced publicly around August 2025 after roughly ten months off air, speaking about the pressures facing independent journalism in Pakistan.
Awards & Recognition
- Most Credible Anchor of the Year — AGAHI Journalism Awards, 2017
Controversies
Abbasi’s career has intersected with several controversies:
- 2020 PEMRA ban: A 60-day broadcast ban on Off the Record following the Faisal Vawda “boot” incident.
- Blasphemy allegation (2019): Some sources reference blasphemy-related allegations made against him that year, which supporters described as an attempt to incite backlash against his reporting. This claim is not consistently documented across reliable sources and should be verified before publishing.
- 2025 off-air controversy: His removal from air following a January 21, 2025 episode critical of parliament, and ARY News’s subsequent public apology distancing itself from his remarks — widely covered by Pakistani press-freedom monitors as a free-speech concern rather than a personal scandal.
- Wife’s “Mediagate” scandal (2012): Not a controversy involving Abbasi directly, but his wife Meher Bukhari was involved in a widely reported 2012 scandal at Dunya News over a “planted” interview with property tycoon Malik Riaz. Abbasi later addressed the matter in a special transmission on his own show.
These are presented as documented media events; none involve a legal conviction, and Abbasi has publicly framed the 2025 incident as a matter of editorial independence.
Personal Life
Abbasi married fellow journalist Meher Bukhari (now known professionally as Meher Abbasi) in November 2011. She has hosted current-affairs programming of her own, including reported work on News Eye. Sources differ on the number and names of their children — one source names a daughter, Khadija Zahra Abbasi, while family details beyond this are not consistently reported.
Kashif Abbasi in 2026
As of 2026, Kashif Abbasi remains a prominent name in Pakistani journalism, frequently cited in press-freedom coverage as an example of the pressures facing independent anchors. His 2025 off-air episode continues to be referenced in media-freedom retrospectives published through mid-2026. His current day-to-day hosting status should be confirmed against the latest ARY News schedule before this section is finalized for publication.
Net Worth
Estimates of Abbasi’s net worth vary widely across unverified celebrity-bio sites, ranging from roughly $500,000 to $5 million, with reported monthly salary figures around PKR 3–4 million. None of these figures come from an official or primary source, so they should be presented as rough, unverified estimates only.
FAQ
Q: What is Kashif Abbasi’s real name?
Kashif Abbasi is his given name; there is no widely reported stage name.
Q: How old is Kashif Abbasi?
He was born on December 10, 1974, making him 51 years old as of 2026.
Q: Who is Kashif Abbasi’s wife?
He is married to journalist Meher Bukhari (Meher Abbasi), whom he wed in November 2011.
Q: Why was Kashif Abbasi taken off air?
He was pulled off Off the Record on ARY News following a January 21, 2025 episode in which he criticized parliament; the network later issued an apology distancing itself from his remarks.
Q: What show is Kashif Abbasi known for?
He is best known for hosting Off the Record on ARY News.
Q: What is Kashif Abbasi’s net worth?
Estimates vary widely and are unverified, ranging roughly from $500,000 to $5 million.
Last updated: August 2026
