Former minister & Pahari leader Mushtaq Bukhari passes away at 75

Srinagar, Oct 02: Mushtaq Ahmad Shah Bukhari, a former minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Surankote, passed away on Wednesday after collapsing at his residence in Poonch district. He was 75 years old and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
According to a BJP leader, Bukhari had been unwell for some time and suffered a heart attack at 7 am.
A two-time former MLA from Surankote, Bukhari joined the BJP in February after the Centre granted Scheduled Tribe status to his Pahari community. He was fielded from Surankote, which went to polls along with 25 other segments on September 25.
Bukhari left the National Conference in February 2022 after a long association, following a disagreement with party president Farooq Abdullah regarding Scheduled Tribe status.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and leaders from several political parties expressed their condolences for Bukhari’s death.
In a condolence message, the LG said, “Deeply pained to learn of the demise of Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, a prominent Pahadi leader. He will be remembered for his commitment to the welfare of people and upliftment of weaker sections of society. My condolences to his family.”
J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina expressed condolences over the demise of the former MLA. “Bukhari’s passing leaves a significant void in the party,” he said.
National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and the party’s vice president Omar Abdullah in a statement said they were deeply saddened by the demise of Bukhari.
They expressed condolences to the grieving family and prayed for peace to the departed soul in the highest realms of Jannah.
“Very sorry to hear about the death of senior BJP leader Mushtaq Bukhari earlier today. His death is a loss to his party and the Pahadi people whose cause he championed. May Allah grant him a place in Jannat. My condolences to his family,” Omar stated in a post on ‘X’.
The party’s General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretaries Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Treasurer Shammi Oberoi, Provincial Presidents Nasir Aslam Wani, Rattan Lal Gupta, Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq Political Advisors Mushtaq Guroo, Mudassar Shamiri, and Senior leaders Javed Rana, Aijaz Jan, also expressed condolences over the demise of Mushtaq Bhukhari and extended solidarity with the grieving family.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also expressed condolences over Bukhari’s demise. “Saddened to learn about the death of Syed Mushtaq Bukhari sahab. May Allah ta’aala grant him Jannat and give his family the strength to bear this loss,” Mufti wrote in a post on ‘X’.