Senator 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]
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 reelected to the Senate in 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]
He assumed office of Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony after the death of Mufti Abdul Shakoor on 15 April 2023.[12]