On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood as the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, giving him the additional charge. Senator Mahmood was already part of the federal cabinet, serving as the Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON). He belongs to the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and was elected as a senator from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in March 2018.
The portfolio for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony had fallen vacant after the tragic death of Mufti Abdul Shakoor in a road accident. The accident occurred when a Toyota Hilux Revo hit Shakoor’s vehicle on the driver’s side while he was travelling towards Secretariat Chowk from a local hotel. The federal minister was shifted to the Polyclinic Hospital in the federal capital, but due to severe internal bleeding, he succumbed to his wounds and passed away.
Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood’s appointment as the Minister for Religious Affairs was announced by the cabinet division through a notification on Tuesday. He has taken on this important role in the wake of Mufti Abdul Shakoor’s sudden death.
The accident that caused the death of Mufti Abdul Shakoor took place on April 15 in the federal capital. The Islamabad Police shared on Twitter that the minister’s car was hit by a Hilux Revo while he was travelling from the Mariott to Secretariat Chowk. The Hilux Revo had five people onboard, and they, along with their vehicle, were taken into custody. Despite being shifted to Poly Clinic Hospital, Mufti Abdul Shakoor could not survive the accident.
In conclusion, the appointment of Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood as the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has been made after the untimely death of Mufti Abdul Shakoor. The tragic road accident that claimed the minister’s life has left a void in the ministry, which the new minister will have to fill. We hope that Senator Mahmood will be able to carry out his duties with integrity and efficiency, while also honoring the legacy of Mufti Abdul Shakoor.
