Jammu and Kashmir Minister, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Syed Mushtaq Bukhari passed away on Wednesday in the Pamrote Surankote area of Poonch district. Bukhari, who was BJP's candidate from Surankote Assembly segment, died this morning at his home. He was 75.

Bukhari, a 75-year-old politician, was fielded by the BJP from Surankote, a Scheduled Tribe reserved constituency in the Jammu region.

A two-time former legislator from Surankote in Poonch district, Bukhari was once a close confidant of National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah.

After a nearly four-decade affiliation with the National Conference, Bukhari parted ways with the party in February 2022 due to a disagreement with Farooq Abdullah over ST status for the Pahari community.