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Muzaffarabad: As many as 98.8 per cent of the people living in the town of Hajira in Rawalakot district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have voted for independence from Pakistan.

The vote was taken by the All Party National Alliance (APNA), a group of Kashmiri leaders in PoK seeking a better deal from Islamabad.

APNA chairman Arif Shahidi said ballot papers were given to as many as 3,600 people in Hazira and 98.8 per cent of voters opted for independence. Only 1.2 per cent were in favour of merging with Pakistan.

Shahidi said that this was a dramatic development and thoroughly exposed Pakistan's claims that the people of PoK wished to merge with Pakistan.

On the contrary, the overwhelming nature of the vote exemplified the frustration of the people of PoK with the lack of development in the region and the utter neglect shown by Pakistan in addressing the problem of the people there. It came as no surprise therefore that people there are in favour of independence to sort out their own problems.

ANI