Pakistan Occupied Kashmir bride becomes sarpanch unopposed in J&K's Kupwara

A 35-year-old woman from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), who married a former terrorist and returned to Jammu and Kashmir via Nepal in 2010, has won the panchayat election unopposed in the remote Khumriyal area of the Kupwara district in North Kashmir.

Arifa Begum had married Ghulam Mohammad Mir in PoK before they returned via Nepal in 2010. Mir had spent eight years in PoK after crossing the LoC for arms training. However, in 2010, he returned with his wife via Nepal and surrendered.

Assistant Returning Officer, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Wani said her nomination papers were accepted because she had all the required documents including the name in the electoral roll, election card and Aadhaar Card.

"We are concerned about the documents. A candidate must have his or her name in the electoral roll which she had along with the picture. She had an election card as well as an Aadhaar card. So her nomination paper was accepted," said Wani.

Since no one contested against her, she was elected unopposed from the Khumriyal panchayat. "There was no one to contest against her and she won unopposed," he said

Arifa's husband Ghulam Mohammad Mir, however, blamed the media for complicating the matter. "I will not comment. Where were you when the form was being submitted? Why did not you ask the deputy commissioner? Why are you pestering us?" he said.

Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir said he cannot comment unless he has seen the documents of the case. "We are verifying the details. We will see what needs to be done. Elections are on and there are so many things on the platter. It is a small issue. I cannot comment about the case till I see the papers," he said.

Panchayat polls are scheduled to be held in nine phases from November 17. The polling will be held on November 17, 20, 24, 27, 29, December 1, 4, 8, and 11 in all 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Panchayat elections were last held in 2011 after a 33-year hiatus in Jammu and Kashmir. More than 80 per cent people had defied terrorists and cast their votes in the panchayat elections in 2011.

‘Verifying Papers’

Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir said he cannot comment unless he sees the documents of the case. “We are verifying the details. We will see what needs to be done,” he said.