Muhammad Talha Mahmood

Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood ( c. 1 November 1960) was a Pakistani 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.

He obtained his degree from Punjab University in 1984 and has since held prominent positions in the political landscape.

Career
In 2006, he was elected to the Senate of Pakistan and his re-election followed in 2012.

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.

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.

He was successfully reelected to the Senate in 2018 Senate election, ensuring his membership in the upper house until March 2024.

Alongside his political engagements, he is also associated with the Talha Mahmood Foundation.

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.

On 26 March 2024, he joined the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

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.