We all know that one GEO anchor from “Eik Din Geo K Sath” who spoke slightly sophisticatedly in an absurdly comedic manner while asking incredibly sensitive yet important questions. Sohail Warraich, a core memory from our childhood and an interview genius.

I remember just how bored I used to get every time my dad had the TV remote and would blast news bulletins in our faces every Sunday morning. Yet, even in all that disinterest, the interview with Sohail Warraich always got me invested.

He was more than just a funny guy, and his journalistic capabilities and interviews remain unmatched even to this day.

The Secret Weapon of the Show

A Lahore native with a Master’s degree in Political Science from Punjab University, Sohail Waraich began his career in print journalism at Jang before becoming a household name on television.

Over the decades, he has written for major publications and hosted shows like “Ek Din Geo Ke Saath,” “Aik Din Dunya Ke Sath,” and countless political specials that blend biography with political commentary.

There is no doubt that Sohail was the secret weapon that the show had. Otherwise, a simple format, the host arrives at the houses of important figures, takes a tour and asks them questions while they are at it (yes, we did it before Vanity Fair). But Soahil Warraich’s interview skills and truth bombs were the reason the show stood out even back then.

The man was interviewing celebrities in every corner of their houses (even bathrooms and bedrooms) with their consent. The very celebrities who wouldn’t otherwise allow a bug in their personal space. Why? Because Waraich has the rare ability to make his guests comfortable, even amused, without creeping them out or being inappropriate. Something you will rarely ever find, not only in Pakistan but globally.

No discrimination or character-shaming was done. No vulgarity or stereotypes are being promoted. From Benazir to Meera to even the late Qandeel Baloch, all were respected equally by Warraich, making each episode a remarkable and revolutionary document.

Does this mean Warraich never asked difficult questions? Oh, he asked questions no one dared to ask, but with grace.

The Art of the Soft Bomb

What makes Sohail Waraich different is his unorthodox interviewing style. Unlike the combative tone most TV anchors adopt in Pakistan’s hyper-polarised media, Waraich used charm as his weapon. His questions are never shouted; they’re slipped in gently, often catching powerful politicians off guard.

Whether he’s interviewing Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto, or Imran Khan, he has an uncanny knack for extracting human vulnerability. The kind that doesn’t show up in press conferences or biased debates.

For instance, in his interviews with military leaders or establishment-favoured politicians, Waraich often used metaphors or soft analogies to suggest criticism. This was a clever form of journalistic aikido that evades censorship while making its point loud and clear.

Keep in mind that this was an era that had no YouTube or social media, so everything went on TV. Hence, to make a show that had such critical undertones to it with such awkward and uncomfortable (controversial) questions that might seem invasive, it was genius to make it the commercial hit that it became.

It was family-friendly, it was informative while being somewhat poetic, something only a genius like Waraich could have done.