Wife of former militant and resident of Pakistan administered Kashmir wins Sarpanch, Panch elections in Kupwara

Representational Picture: Jehangeer Shah

Srinagar: A woman from Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) has been elected unopposed as Sarpanch and Panch in Khumriyal area of northern Kashmir’s Kupwara district.

Arifa Begum (35) had come to this part of Kashmir along with her husband Ghulam Mohammad Mir via Nepal in 2010. Arifa, originally a resident of Palandari village in Muzaffarabad had submitted her nomination papers for both Panch as well as Sarpanch wards in Khumriyal-B in the frontier district.

There were no nominations against her and as such has been declared elected unopposed for both Panch and Sarpanch wards, an official from the district administration said.

Ghulam Mohammad Mir said that he crossed over Line of Control (LoC) in 2001 and remained there till 2010 before returning home via Nepal along with his wife Arifa.

“During my days in Pakistan to earn the livelihood, Mir said adding, “during the time I married Arifa”.

Mir had gone to PaK in 2001 for arms training and returned in 2010.

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