Talha Mahmood
Talha Mahmood | |
|---|---|
| طلحہ محمود | |
| Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony | |
| In office 20 April 2022 – 10 August 2023 | |
| President | Arif Alvi |
| Prime Minister | Shehbaz Sharif |
| Preceded by | Abdul Shakoor |
| Member of the Senate of Pakistan | |
| In office 12 March 2018 – 12 March 2024 | |
| Constituency | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| In office 12 March 2012 – 11 March 2018 | |
| Constituency | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| In office 12 March 2006 – 11 March 2012 | |
| Constituency | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat | |
| In office 12 March 2012 – 12 March 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 November 1960 Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Nationality |  Pakistan |
| Political party | PPP (2024-present) |
| Other political affiliations | JUI (F) (2006-2024) |
| Alma mater | Punjab University |
Muhammad Talha Mahmood (Urdu: محمد طلحہ محمود c. 1 November 1960) is a Pakistani politician and was a general category member of the Senate of Pakistan from Hazara Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who was the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony, in office from 20 April 2022 till 10 August 2023.[1][2]
He obtained his degree from Punjab University in 1984.[3]
Career
In 2006, he was elected to the Senate of Pakistan and his re-election followed in 2012.[4]
He is the founder and chairman of ACM Group, Pakistan's largest manufacturer of batteries.[5][6]
He is Deputy Parliamentary Leader of JUI-F (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam). Additionally, he holds key responsibilities as the Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee for Narcotics Control and Interior.[7]
Furthermore, he contributes his expertise as a member of several important Senate standing committees, including Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat and Capital Administration and Development, Petroleum and Natural Resources, and Ministry of Finance.[8]
He was successfully re-elected to the Senate in the 2018 Senate election, ensuring his membership in the upper house until March 2024.[8]
Alongside his political engagements, he is also associated with the Talha Mahmood Foundation.[9]
He contested the 2024 Pakistani general election from NA-1 Upper Chitral-cum-Lower Chitral as a candidate of JUI-F, but was unsuccessful. He received 43,127 votes and was defeated by Abdul Latif, an independent candidate.[10]
On 26 March 2024, he joined the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) after spending the first 18 years of his political career with JUI-F (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam).[11]
In August 2025, Talha Mahmood was once again elected to the Senate of Pakistan, this time as a candidate of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), following a seat-sharing agreement between the provincial government and opposition parties in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. He received 17 votes and secured one of the general seats during the delayed Senate elections originally scheduled for March 2024. The elections were postponed due to legal disputes over reserved seat allocations and were held after the Supreme Court's intervention.[12]
Minister of Religious Affairs
He assumed office of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony after the death of Mufti Abdul Shakoor on 15 April 2023.[13]
References
- ^ Ali, Kalbe (19 April 2023). "Talha Mahmood given portfolio of religious affairs". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony". mora.gov.pk. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "Senate of Pakistan". senate.gov.pk. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood to head religious affairs ministry". Geo.tv. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ ADVERTISEMENT (19 August 2024). "Pakistan's largest battery manufacturer ACM Group announces its new brand — SAGA Batteries". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ Content, Sponsored (19 August 2024). "SAGA Batteries: Pakistan's largest battery". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Talha Mahmood leaves for Saudi Arabia to review Hajj arrangements". 20 April 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Senate of Pakistan". senate.gov.pk. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "Talha Mehmood Foundation Helping Poor Strata By Distributing Food Packages". UrduPoint. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "PTI-backed candidates make clean sweep in Chitral". 8 February 2024.
- ^ Guramani, Nadir (26 March 2024). "PPP says opposition in KP to spring 'surprise' in Senate polls as JUI-F's Talha Mahmood joins party". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Hameed, Shahid (8 July 2025). "Senate race heats up as K‑P battle begins". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
- ^ Ali, Kalbe (19 April 2023). "Talha Mahmood given portfolio of religious affairs". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
External links
- Profile of Muhammad Talha Mahmood, Senate of Pakistan.