Aftab Iqbal (born 19 September 1958) is a Pakistani television host, journalist and businessman who founded an international Pakistani news channel, Aap Media Group. He is a former host of TV programs Hasb-e-Haal on Dunya News (2009–2010), Khabarnaak on Geo News (2010–2015), Khabardaar on Express News (2015–2018), Himaqatain (2018–2019) on 92 News, Khabarzar on Aap News (2019–2020), Khabaryar on Neo News (2020–2021), Khabardaar Season 2 on Express News (2021–2022) and Khabarhar on Samaa TV News (2022–2023). Since 2024, He is doing Khabarhar Season 2 on Web Digital Platforms.[2][3]
His presence on digital media is through his YouTube channel Aftab Iqbal started on January 7, 2017. In October 2018, he launched his TV Channel Aap News, where he fulfilled administrative affairs. In January 2020, he left his own channel and joined Neo News. He left Neo News in January 2021 and went back on Express News and hosted the show Khabardar on Express News, which he in turn left to start Khabarhaar on Samaa TV in 2022.[4] In 2024, after the 1 year of break, he revived Khabarhar as "Khabarhar Season 2" which quickly grabbed the attention of the viewers. He digitally connected with his team in Lahore studio to record the show while himself, co-host Dr. Arooba, Researcher Shakeel Chaudhary and other part of his team remaining in UAE. He also introduced digital shows Open Mic Cafe, Amaniyat, Dialogue With History and Chacha Boota on his own YouTube channel Aftab Iqbal. [5]
Early life and education
Aftab Iqbal was born on 9 September 1958 in a PunjabiArain family of Okara.
He is the son of well-known poet Zafar Iqbal who also has been writing columns for Pakistani newspapers for over 35 years.[6][3]
He worked as a reporter from 1986 to 1987 and held some positions in the private sector companies of Pakistan. Then he briefly worked as a 'Media Advisor' to Chief Minister of Punjab (Pakistan) from 1994 to 1995. He wrote a column titled "Aaftabian" in Nawa-i-Waqt newspaper from 1995 to 2010.[3]
Many people in Pakistan give him credit for playing a key role in boosting the viewership and TV ratings at three Pakistani TV channels.
He also used to write this program's script and, as a host of the show, used to try to keep it focused on the political comedy and satire and not let it wander aimlessly.[7] The crew and cast of Khabarnaak used to do parodies or mimicries of Pakistan's known politicians like Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, Rehman Malik, Shahbaz Sharif, famous writer Anwar Maqsood, Pakistani TV personality Tariq Aziz and pop music artist Ali Azmat among many others.[7] Aftab Iqbal used to include a short educational segment in this program, called Zabaan-o-Bayaan in which he used to point out language pronunciation errors made by the common public.[7]
^ abcdQaisar Rashid (8 April 2014). "A few words on Khabarnaak". Daily Times (newspaper). Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
