Waseem Badami is a Pakistani television host, news anchor, and journalist best known for hosting the political talk show 11th Hour on ARY News. This Waseem Badami biography covers his age, family, education, career timeline, controversies, and his current status in 2026. Over nearly two decades on air, Badami has become one of Pakistan’s most recognizable current-affairs anchors, known for his signature “Masoomana Sawal” (innocent questions) interview style.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Waseem Badami |
| Date of Birth | 7 February 1985 |
| Age | 41 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Education | MBA (Marketing) — sources conflict on institution: most cite SZABIST Karachi; at least one source cites University of Karachi |
| Profession | TV Anchor, Journalist, Talk Show Host, Entrepreneur |
| Known For | 11th Hour, Shan-e-Ramazan, “Masoomana Sawal” segment |
| Spouse | Mahira Fatima |
| Children | Reportedly one son, named Adil Abbas in some sources |
| Social Handles | Instagram: @waseembadami_official (~5M followers); X/Twitter: @WaseemBadami (~4.4M followers); YouTube: @WaseemBadamii |
Who Is Waseem Badami?
Waseem Badami is a Karachi-born television anchor who has spent nearly his entire career at ARY News, becoming one of the most-watched political talk show hosts in Pakistan. He is best known for 11th Hour, a nightly political program covering Pakistan’s shifting party landscape (PTI, PML-N, PPP), and for Shan-e-Ramazan, ARY Digital’s long-running Ramadan transmission. Beyond news, he has built a parallel identity as a cricket show host during the Pakistan Super League and as an entrepreneur with his own consumer brand.
Early Life & Family
Badami was born on 7 February 1985 in Karachi. Detailed information about his parents and siblings is not widely documented in public sources. He is married to Mahira Fatima; reports vary on the number and names of his children, and this detail should be confirmed before publishing with full confidence.
Education
Multiple sources state Badami holds an MBA in Marketing, with most naming Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) in Karachi as his alma mater. At least one source instead cites the University of Karachi. Because this detail is inconsistently reported, it should be flagged as unverified rather than stated as settled fact.
Career
Radio and Early Broadcasting (Early 2000s)
Badami’s media career began while he was still a student, giving live traffic updates on a Karachi radio station. This early on-air work is widely cited as the foundation of his broadcasting voice and delivery style. He then moved into television as a researcher at Business Plus channel.
Joining ARY News (2006)
Badami joined ARY News in 2006 as a journalist and anchor, reportedly selected from a large pool of applicants. He built his early reputation covering breaking news, including field reporting during the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake near Islamabad.
The BOL Network Interlude (2014–2015)
In October 2014, Badami left ARY News to join the newly launched BOL Network as Executive Vice President and Senior Anchorperson — a senior move that was widely covered in Pakistani media at the time. He resigned from BOL in April 2015 and returned to ARY News the same year.
Rise of 11th Hour and Shan-e-Ramazan (2015–2020)
Back at ARY, Badami became the face of 11th Hour, a nightly political talk show that grew into one of the network’s flagship programs. He also took over hosting duties on Shan-e-Ramazan, ARY Digital’s annual Ramadan transmission, which was originally co-hosted with the late Junaid Jamshed.
Cricket Hosting and Business Ventures (2017–2022)
In 2017, Badami partnered with Hemani Herbals to launch “WB,” a personal-care and skincare brand, expanding his public profile beyond journalism. During Pakistan Super League seasons, he hosts Har Lamha Purjosh, a cricket chat show featuring players, commentators, and celebrity guests. In 2022, he launched a podcast with Waseem Badami on YouTube, extending his brand into long-form digital content.
Recognition (2025)
In August 2025, Badami was conferred the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) by the President of Pakistan, one of the country’s civilian honors, recognising his contribution to Pakistani media.
Controversies
Babar Azam WhatsApp Chat Controversy (October 2023)
During the 2023 Cricket World Cup, ARY News aired a private WhatsApp conversation between then-Pakistan captain Babar Azam and a senior PCB official on Badami’s show. The move triggered the hashtag #BoycottARY and criticism from former cricketers Azhar Ali and Basit Ali over consent and media ethics. Badami publicly apologised on X, stating the decision was made minutes before airtime after PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf reportedly gave the go-ahead to broadcast the screenshot. Reports at the time indicated Babar Azam considered legal action over the leak; it is not publicly confirmed whether any legal action was pursued to conclusion.
Child Vlogger Segment Criticism (March 2024)
Badami faced public criticism after featuring a child social media vlogger as a guest on his show, with critics questioning the appropriateness of the segment. He responded to the backlash publicly.
Second Marriage Rumors
Unverified rumors of a second marriage have circulated online. Badami has denied these claims. As with any unconfirmed personal-life claim, this should be treated as rumored rather than settled.
Personal Life
Badami is married to Mahira Fatima. Beyond this, detailed personal-life information is limited in public reporting, and claims beyond what is listed above should be treated cautiously.
Waseem Badami in 2026
As of mid-2026, Badami continues to anchor 11th Hour on ARY News, covering Pakistan’s ongoing political developments, including coverage of PTI protests, Balochistan security issues, and inter-provincial political tensions. In July 2026, he covered the “Kahna incident” school tragedy on his program. He also continued hosting Har Lamha Purjosh during the 2026 PSL season, where guests — including actor Adnan Siddiqui in April 2026 — have appeared to discuss ongoing entertainment-industry news, such as the Iqrar-ul-Hassan airport controversy. He remains one of the most-followed Pakistani anchors on social media, with a growing Instagram and YouTube presence.
Shows Hosted by Waseem Badami
| Show | Network | Type | Years Active |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11th Hour | ARY News | Political talk show | 2015–present |
| Shan-e-Ramazan | ARY Digital | Ramadan transmission | ~2015–present |
| Har Lamha Purjosh | ARY | Cricket talk show (PSL) | Recurring, seasonal |
| Podcast with Waseem Badami | YouTube | Digital podcast | 2022–present |
| Waar (film cameo) | — | News anchor cameo role | 2013 |
FAQs
Who is Waseem Badami?
Waseem Badami is a Pakistani television anchor and journalist best known for hosting the political talk show 11th Hour on ARY News.
What is Waseem Badami’s real name?
Waseem Badami is his full and commonly used professional name; no separate birth name is publicly documented.
How old is Waseem Badami?
He was born on 7 February 1985, making him 41 years old as of 2026.
What is Waseem Badami’s net worth?
His net worth is reportedly estimated at around $1.5 million (roughly PKR 80–100 million), though this figure is not independently confirmed and should be treated as an unverified estimate.
Who is Waseem Badami’s wife?
He is married to Mahira Fatima.
What shows does Waseem Badami host?
He hosts 11th Hour (political talk show), Shan-e-Ramazan (Ramadan transmission), and Har Lamha Purjosh (cricket show during PSL), along with his own YouTube podcast.
Why did Waseem Badami apologize to Babar Azam?
In October 2023, his ARY News show aired a private WhatsApp chat involving then-captain Babar Azam without his consent, prompting public backlash and an on-air apology from Badami.
Last updated: August 2026
