Najam Sethi is one of Pakistan’s most recognisable journalists, editors, and political commentators, best known as the founder and editor-in-chief of The Friday Times. Now in his late 70s, Najam Sethi remains a prominent voice in Pakistani media in 2026, regularly commenting on politics, cricket administration, and India-Pakistan relations. He has also served three separate terms as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and briefly as caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab in 2013.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Najam Abdul Aziz Sethi |
| Date of Birth | May 20, 1948 |
| Age | 78 years (as of August 2026) |
| Birthplace | Lahore or Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan — sources conflict |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Religion | Islam |
| Education | St. Anthony’s High School, Lahore; Government College University, Lahore; Clare College, University of Cambridge (Economics) |
| Profession | Journalist, Editor, Political Commentator, Businessman |
| Known For | Editor-in-Chief, The Friday Times; host of Aapas Ki Baat; PCB Chairman |
| Spouse | Jugnu Mohsin (m. 1983) |
| Children | Mira Sethi (actress/writer), Ali Sethi (singer) |
| Social Handles | [VERIFY: official handles before publishing] |
Who Is Najam Sethi?
Najam Aziz Sethi is a Pakistani journalist and left-leaning political commentator who serves as editor-in-chief of The Friday Times and has hosted the primetime current affairs show Aapas Ki Baat on Geo News. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has moved between journalism, publishing, cricket administration, and, briefly, government office — making him one of the few Pakistani media figures with direct experience inside both the press and the state.
He is widely regarded, per his own institutional biography, as one of Pakistan’s most decorated journalists, having received three international press freedom honors over the course of his career.
Early Life & Family
Sethi was born in 1948 in Punjab, though sources disagree on whether his birthplace was Lahore or Kasur. He was born as Najam Abdul Aziz Sethi in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. However, other genealogical records list his place of birth as Kasur. His father’s name is recorded as Abdul Aziz Sethi; details about his mother and siblings are not consistently documented and should be treated as unverified. Biography Makers Wikidata
During the 1970s, Sethi left mainstream politics and economics academia to join a socialist movement advocating for the rights of Balochistan, which led to his arrest in 1975; he was released in 1978. This period of activism under General Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law is frequently cited as formative to his later focus on press freedom.
Education
Najam Sethi is a graduate of Government College, Lahore, and later Cambridge University in the UK. He studied economics at Government College before moving to Clare College, Cambridge, where he completed a master’s degree in economics and began (but did not complete) a PhD, leaving to join political activism instead. In 2011, he was elected Alumnus of the Year and a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge.
Career
Publishing and Early Journalism (1970s–1980s)
After stepping back from direct political activism, Sethi founded Vanguard Books, a progressive book publishing company.
Founding The Friday Times (1989)
In 1989, Sethi and his wife, Jugnu Mohsin, launched The Friday Times, an independent English-language weekly. He later also served as editor of the Daily Times and Daily Aajkal newspapers. The Friday Times remains his primary journalistic platform in 2026.
Television and Aapas Ki Baat (2011–2018)
Sethi hosted Aapas Ki Baat Najam Sethi Kay Sath on Geo News, an Urdu-language current affairs program airing weeknights, from 2011 until 2018. The show became one of Pakistan’s longest-running and most-watched political talk formats.
Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab (2013)
Sethi briefly stepped into government as caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab from March to June 2013, overseeing the province ahead of general elections before handing power back following the vote.
Pakistan Cricket Board Leadership (2013–2023, across three terms)
Sethi has chaired the PCB three separate times: June 2013–May 2014, August 2017–August 2018, and December 2022–June 2023. He also chaired the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from its founding in 2015 until 2018. In 2017, he alleged he was physically assaulted by supporters of the PTI party during an India-Pakistan match, and he resigned from the PCB chairmanship in 2018 following Imran Khan’s election as prime minister.
Business Ventures (2020–Present)
Sethi served as Chairman of Mitchell’s, a Pakistani food company, from 2020 until November 2022, at which point he transitioned to CEO of the company, a role he still holds.
Awards and Recognition
- International Press Freedom Award, Committee to Protect Journalists (1999), shared with wife Jugnu Mohsin
- Golden Pen of Freedom, World Association of Newspapers (2009)
- Hilal-i-Imtiaz, awarded by the President of Pakistan (2011)
- Courage in Journalism-type recognition from Amnesty International, making him, by some accounts, the only journalist in Asia to receive three major international press freedom awards within a decade
Controversies
Sethi’s decades in public life have generated repeated controversy, most of it tied to his outspoken political commentary:
- 2008 editorials and death threats: Sethi faced death threats over editorials critical of religious fundamentalism, and separately drew controversy for an editorial comparing a school principal’s actions to the Lal Masjid incident.
- 2017 PCB/PTI incident: He alleged he was physically assaulted by PTI supporters during an India-Pakistan cricket match, and resigned as PCB chairman the following year.
- April 2026 – India legal complaint over Karan Thapar interview: An Indian lawyer filed a complaint against Indian journalist Karan Thapar for interviewing Sethi, alleging the interview contained remarks compromising Indian national security and that Sethi may have been briefed by Pakistan’s ISI beforehand — an allegation that remains unproven and is presented here as a legal claim, not established fact.
- June 2026 – Telecom Amendment Bill dispute: Sethi publicly demanded the removal of Pakistan’s IT Minister, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, over a controversial telecom amendment bill critics said threatened private property rights; the government did not publicly respond to his allegations.
- August 2026 – On-air language backlash: A televised segment in which Sethi used informal, colloquial language while discussing Gulf states’ reaction to a geopolitical issue drew social media criticism over broadcast professionalism; separately, politician Khawaja Asif criticized Sethi for reportedly prioritizing PSL commentary over national security discussion.
Personal Life
Sethi married politician and fellow journalist Jugnu Mohsin in 1983. The couple has a daughter, Mira Sethi, and a son, Ali Sethi. Mira Sethi has built a career as an actress and writer, while Ali Sethi is a well-known singer and author. The family is frequently described in Pakistani media as one of the country’s most prominent liberal, media-connected households.
Najam Sethi in 2026
As of mid-2026, Najam Sethi remains active as editor-in-chief of The Friday Times and CEO of Mitchell’s. In January 2026, he delivered the opening address at ThinkFest 2026 in Lahore, introducing keynote speaker Professor Vali Nasr. Through the first half of 2026 he has continued weighing in publicly on major national issues, including Pakistan’s cricket standoffs around the T20 World Cup, the telecom amendment bill controversy, and India-Pakistan media relations — with an on-air controversy in August 2026 keeping him in ongoing news cycles.
Notable Roles and Positions
| Role | Period |
|---|---|
| Editor-in-Chief, The Friday Times | 1989–present |
| Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab | March–June 2013 |
| Chairman, Pakistan Cricket Board | 2013–2014, 2017–2018, 2022–2023 |
| Chairman, Pakistan Super League | 2015–2018 |
| Host, Aapas Ki Baat (Geo News) | 2011–2018 |
| Chairman, Mitchell’s | 2020–2022 |
| CEO, Mitchell’s | 2022–present |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Najam Sethi’s real name?
His full name is Najam Abdul Aziz Sethi, commonly known as Najam Sethi.
How old is Najam Sethi in 2026?
He is 78 years old, based on a widely cited birth date of May 20, 1948.
Who is Najam Sethi’s wife?
He is married to Jugnu Mohsin, a journalist and former Punjab Assembly member, whom he wed in 1983.
What is Najam Sethi famous for?
He is best known as founder and editor-in-chief of The Friday Times, as a longtime host of Aapas Ki Baat, and for three separate terms as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman.
Is Najam Sethi related to Ali Sethi?
Yes, singer Ali Sethi is his son. His daughter, Mira Sethi, is an actress and writer.
What is Najam Sethi’s net worth?
No net worth figure from a credible financial source could be verified; online “celebrity net worth” estimates vary widely (roughly $1–5 million) and should be treated as unverified estimates, not confirmed figures.
Why was Najam Sethi in the news in 2026?
He drew attention for public criticism of Pakistan’s telecom amendment bill, a legal complaint filed in India over an interview he gave, and an on-air language controversy in August 2026.
Last updated: August 2026
