Prominent political analyst and senior journalist Najam Sethi has stepped down from Samaa TV after nearly two years and has returned to Dunya TV — the channel where he began his electronic media career back in 2009. The move marks a full-circle moment in Sethi’s long and storied journey through Pakistan’s evolving broadcast landscape.
Sethi announced the shift on X, thanking Samaa TV owner Aleem Khan and senior journalist Nadeem Malik for hosting his show Sethi Se Sawal for almost two years. His message ended on a forward-looking note: “Now a new journey begins…,” signalling a fresh chapter as he re-enters the network that first brought him onto television screens more than a decade and a half ago.
No official reason has been provided for his departure from Samaa TV, but such transitions remain common in Pakistan’s highly competitive media market. Editorial realignments, ownership priorities, and changing newsroom dynamics frequently prompt senior analysts to find new platforms. Channels continuously recalibrate their political bearings, adjust prime-time lineups, and respond to regulatory and commercial pressures — all of which shape the movement of prominent voices within the industry.
Over the years, Sethi has become one of Pakistan’s most recognisable media figures. His career spans major networks including Geo, 24 News, AAP, and his previous stint at Dunya. Beyond journalism, he has held significant public positions, including serving as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board in three tenures, as well as taking charge as caretaker Federal Minister and caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab. As the founder and editor-in-chief of The Friday Times, one of the country’s leading independent political weeklies, he has been a driving force in shaping political debate. His commentary — often focused on civil-military relations, governance, and Pakistan’s power structures — has earned both strong criticism and enduring influence.
Sethi’s return to Dunya TV not only reconnects him with his earliest chapter in electronic media but also underscores the fluid and fast-changing nature of Pakistan’s broadcast environment, where shifts in political winds and corporate strategies continue to reshape the careers of senior journalists.
Leave a Reply