Wasti Saheb was born in Lucknow, from based family of Saadaat-e-Baraha who are rooted in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. He was posted in Ferozepur, Indian Punjab, in 1947 when the partition forced him to migrate to Lahore for safety. 

Alim Wasti was mentored by Shabbir Hasan Qateel Lucknowi and his early poetry used the subjects and style found in traditional Lucknowi style poetry. After the pain and loss he experienced from partition and living in a new environment gave his poetry depth and a more unique point of view; uncertainty, cynicism and defiance are some of the many interesting themes he expressed.