Islamabad, July 26 - Pro-Taliban cleric Sufi Muhammad, who brokered a peace deal between the militants and the government about six months ago in Swat Valley, was arrested by Pakistan authorities Sunday from northwestern city of Peshawar, a news report here said.

The influential cleric and his two sons, Ziaullah and Rizwanullah, were held following a raid in an area in the capital city of the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP), Geo TV reported citing official sources.

The cleric, the head of the Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi, was arrested for speaking against the government and encouraging violence and terrorism, the report said.

In February, Sufi Muhammad negotiated a peace deal with the provincial government that allowed the Taliban to enforce Islamic (Sharia) law in exchange for shedding violence.