Poonch : A woman from Pakistan Administered Kashmir has debarred) from contesting Panchayat elections in Sawjian village of Mandi tehsil in Poonch district.
The woman had come from Pak after marrying Rafiq Bhat, a resident of Sawjian (Mandi) via Nepal few years back.
Official sources told GNS said that Rafiq along with his wife Nausheen, a resident of PaK, had crossed over to this side. The woman do not have a PRC while she has valid Aadhar, Election Cards and the Ration Card. The Deputy Commissioner, Poonch Rahul Yadav, has now ordered an inquiry as how the woman got the Adhaar, election card and the ration card.
The woman jumped into election fray by filing nominations for contesting Sarpanch election from reserved Panchayat Halqa near the LoC in Mandi. She filed the form from Ward No. 8, Sawjian Panchayat.
The deputy commissioner Poonch Rahul Yadav when contacted said that as soon as the matter came to his notice, he sought a report from the concerned Returning Officer and later after preliminary inquiry directed to cancel her nomination paper.
He said the candidate failed to produce PRC. Yadav said that he has asked District Police to conduct a probe as how she managed to obtain Aadhar Card, Voter Identity Card and the Ration Card.
Her husband, Rafiq Bhat when contacted by GNS claimed that he is resident of Poonch and is “true Indian.”
He said that her wife’s forefathers also belonged to the Ponnch area. “They are originally resident of Ponnch and they settled on that side of LoC few decades back.”
He said if government of India considers that PaK “is part of India” then why her wife was being considered as Pakistani. He also pointed out that if Sonia Gandhi being from Italy can be citizen of India, then the same law also applies for his wife. He warned to challenge the decision in the court of law. Nausheen claimed that she was Indian, his father and grandfathers were Indians and she would fight for her rights up to New Delhi. (GNS)
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