Jammu: Former minister and BJP candidate from Surankote, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah Bukhari, died on Wednesday after collapsing at his residence in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, party leaders said.
He was 75 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
Bukhari was unwell for some time and suffered a heart attack at 7 am, leading to his death, a BJP leader said.
Bukhari, a two-time former MLA from Surankote, joined the BJP in February this year 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 in the second phase on September 25.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed his grief over the demise of prominent Pahadi leader.
In a condolence message, the Lt Governor said, “Deeply pained to learn of the demise of Shri 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”.