Najam Sethi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Najam Aziz Sethi نجم عزیز سیٹھی
Najam Sethi at the launch of PSL in 2015
Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board
In office 23 December 2022 – 22 June 2023
Appointed by	Shehbaz Sharif
President	Arif Alvi
Prime Minister	Shehbaz Sharif
Preceded by	Ramiz Raja
Succeeded by	Zaka Ashraf
In office 10 August 2017 – 20 August 2018
Appointed by	Nawaz Sharif
President	Mamnoon Hussain
Prime Minister	Nawaz Sharif Imran Khan
Preceded by	Shahryar Khan
Succeeded by	Ehsan Mani
In office 24 June 2013 – 16 May 2014
Appointed by	Nawaz Sharif
President	Mamnoon Hussain
Prime Minister	Nawaz Sharif
Preceded by	Zaka Ashraf
Succeeded by	Shahryar Khan
Chairman of the Pakistan Super League
In office 20 September 2015 – 20 August 2018
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Ehsan Mani
Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab
In office 27 March 2013 – 6 June 2013
Preceded by	Shehbaz Sharif
Succeeded by	Shehbaz Sharif
Chairman of Mitchell's
In office 2020 – 10 November 2022
Preceded by	S.M. Mohsin
Succeeded by	Shahzad Ghaffar
CEO of Mitchell's
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 November 2022
Preceded by	Naila Bhatti
Personal details
Born	Najam Abdul Aziz Sethi (1948-05-20) 20 May 1948 (age 77) Kasur, West Punjab, Pakistan (present-day Punjab, Pakistan)
Spouse	Jugnu Mohsin ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	Mira Sethi (daughter) Ali Sethi (son)
Alma mater	St. Anthony High School, Lahore
Occupation	Journalist, TV Anchor
Profession	Journalist Businessman
Known for	Editor-in-Chief The Friday Times
Awards	CPJ International Press Freedom Award (1999) Golden Pen of Freedom Award (2009) Hilal-i-Imtiaz Award in 2011

Najam Aziz Sethi (born 20 May 1948) is a well-known Pakistani journalist, businessman, and cricket leader. He is currently the chief executive officer (CEO) of Mitchell's, a company. He has also served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) three times. Besides this, he was a caretaker government minister and the Chief Minister of Punjab once. He also started The Friday Times newspaper and Vanguard Books.

As a journalist, he writes about politics and is the editor-in-chief of The Friday Times. He also used to be the Chairman of the Pakistan Super League, a big cricket tournament. During the 2013 elections, he was the temporary caretaker chief minister of Punjab. He also hosted a TV show called Aapas ki Baat on Geo News.

Najam Sethi's Journey

Najam Sethi started his public life by working for the rights of people in Balochistan. This led to his arrest in 1975, but he was released in 1978. After that, he decided to leave politics. He then started Vanguard Books, a company that publishes books.

Starting Newspapers

In 1989, Sethi and his wife Jugnu Mohsin launched an independent English weekly newspaper called The Friday Times. This newspaper was important because it offered independent news.

In 1999, Sethi was arrested by the government. This happened after he gave an interview to the BBC about corruption. Many believed his arrest was because of his work as a journalist. Organizations like Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists spoke out for him. The Supreme Court of Pakistan later ordered his release.

In 2002, he started another newspaper, the Daily Times of Pakistan. He was its editor until 2009. He also worked as a correspondent for The Economist from 1990 to 2008.

Facing Challenges

Najam Sethi has faced threats because of his journalism. In 2008, he received death threats for publishing articles against religious extremism. He had to live with constant security because of these threats.

Leading Punjab as Caretaker Chief Minister

On 26 March 2013, Najam Sethi was chosen as the temporary Chief Minister of Punjab. This was for the 2013 Pakistani general election, which took place on 11 May 2013. Both the main political parties agreed on his name for this important role. He took his oath on 27 March 2013. He left the office on 6 June 2013, after the elections. Some political parties, like PTI, accused him of helping to fix the elections in some areas.

Leading Pakistan Cricket

Najam Sethi has served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) multiple times. This role involves managing cricket in Pakistan.

First Time as Chairman

Nawaz Sharif, who was the Prime Minister then, appointed Sethi as the acting chairman of the PCB. This happened after a court ordered a temporary chairman to be appointed. Sethi stepped down when the previous chairman was allowed to return.

Second Time as Chairman

In August 2017, Sethi was elected as the PCB chairman for the second time. He was chosen without anyone else running for the position. However, after Imran Khan became Prime Minister in 2018, Najam Sethi resigned from his role. Imran Khan then announced that Ehsan Mani would take over as chairman.

Third Time as Chairman

In December 2022, Najam Sethi was appointed as the Chairman of the PCB Management Committee for a third time. This happened after Imran Khan's government ended. The new Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, gave Sethi and 13 other board members the task of bringing back the PCB's 2014 rules. They were given a few months to do this, and later got an extension.

On 20 June 2023, Najam Sethi announced that he would not continue as Chairman of the PCB. He mentioned concerns about stability. Zaka Ashraf then became the new Chairman on 5 July 2023.

Personal Life

Najam Sethi is married to Jugnu Mohsin, who is also a journalist. She is the publisher of The Friday Times. Their daughter, Mira Sethi, is a journalist and actress.

Awards and Recognition

Najam Sethi has received several important awards for his work:

• In 1999, he and his wife, Jugnu Mohsin, received the International Press Freedom Award. This award is given to journalists who bravely defend press freedom.
• In 2009, he was given the Golden Pen of Freedom. This is an annual award for press freedom from the World Association of Newspapers.
• In 2011, he received the Hilal-i-Imtiaz Award from the President of Pakistan.

Books by Najam Sethi

Najam Sethi has written several books, including:

• Troika Trouble: Pakistan Under Nawaz Sharif 1990-1993
• Troika Endgame: Pakistan Under Benazir Bhutto 1993-1996
• Aik Safay Ki Badshahat: Imran Khan's Government 2018-2022 (This book is in Urdu and talks about Imran Khan's time as Prime Minister.)