From stock market guru to political casualty: The rise and fall of Razi Dada

From stock market guru to political casualty, Razi Dada’s journey reflects the fragile balance between journalism and politics in Pakistan, raising questions about media integrity, party affiliations, and public trust.

By Imran Malik

The Razi Dada I knew is very different from the one making headlines today. Recently, he was first dismissed from PTV and then publicly humiliated in a Senate standing committee. It was a painful moment—strongly condemned by many, but sadly, no professional forum or even his own organization stood by him. That silence was perhaps the most tragic part.

I still remember when I had just joined SAMAA, and a query came in from Gujrat about GFC fans. While following up, I discovered that Razi Dada was serving as the Bureau Chief at CNBC—an institution in himself. I asked for a meeting and walked into his Liberty office, just one floor above SAMAA. There he was: a suited, polished man, puffing on his pipe, with a fragrance that matched his sophistication. A short meeting turned into an hour-long conversation with one of the finest business minds I had ever met. It was no surprise that the late Zafar Siddiqui had chosen him for CNBC.

Our meetings continued off and on. Later, when he left CNBC and started the Dada Hota Show from the Money Market office, I noticed a change. At CNBC, he was balanced, courteous, and neutral—a true analyst. But later, party affiliations began to overshadow his journalistic integrity, and the change was hard to ignore.

With time, his growing political leanings pushed him away from prime panels of private TV channels. Instead, he found space on PTV, where the government of the day valued his voice. But that came at a cost: the perception that his analysis was driven more by politics than journalism.

For viewers like us, this meant losing access to his sharp insights on stocks and the business world. And now, with his pro-government statement on PML-N’s letterhead, he stands closer to power than ever—but further away from the wider audience who once admired him.

Yet, for many of us, he will always remain “our Razi Dada.” A seasoned journalist, a mentor, and a man of substance. Wherever he goes, may he remain safe, happy, and blessed.