Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 3: A woman from Pakistan occupied Kashmir was among 11 candidates in fray in District Development Council (DDC) elections from Drugmulla constituency in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Somaya Latif, a native of Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) arrived in Kashmir after the Government of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir initiated a rehabilitation policy for all the people who crossed over the border for arms training in the 1990s.
She had married a Kashmiri youth in Muzaffarabad, who surrendered later.
Latif said she wanted peace on both sides of the LoC. “Women who along with their husbands and children under the rehabilitation scheme 2010 have come here with peaceful massage, I would like to carry that forward,” she said, adding that the love from the people has made it possible for her to contest the election.
She said that people encouraged her to contest the election and she would work hard for their welfare. “I would focus on the unemployment of our youth. Besides, I would work towards the women empowerment,” she said, adding that her election symbol is “Laptop” and urged people to show their support by voting in her favor.
She has been working in a scheme under the Government titled ‘SRLM’ during which the fieldwork has evoked a huge response. “I am hopeful that the people will show similar response by voting in my favor. Our SRLM group is doing a great job and we have the support of youth here,” she said.
Somaya said that there have been no discussions about the decision to contest the DDC election with Pakistani brides living across the Valley or Kupwara district.” But, they will be happy with my decision as I will be able to represent them in a better way,” she said, adding that she would work for both Pakistani brides and locals.
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