A councillor who had missed almost six months of meetings has escaped censure after he turned up at the Town Hall for a full council meeting recently.
Labour Councillor Zaheer Ahmed, who represents Daneshouse and Stoneyholme ward on Burnley council, returned to the UK on Monday.
Council chiefs had begun proceedings to remove him from office as he had not attended a council meeting since October 24.
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But after he turned up at the meeting last night, a motion to disqualify Coun Ahmed from office was withdrawn without debate.
Labour colleagues in Burnley said that they had had difficulties in contacting Coun Ahmed, who was elected to the authority in a closely-fought contest in 2006.
Coun Ahmed was contacted last week in the village of Attak, in the Punjab region of Pakistan, when he said he had been caring for his sick parents.
He pledged to return to the UK before his the complete six months period of absence ended on April 24 and accused the ruling Liberal Democrat and Tory coalition of bringing up the matter prematurely because local elections are pending.
Under council rules his attendance at the meeting led to the disqualification proceedings being automatically halted.
Coun Ahmed said after the meeting: "I am back here now and willing and ready to serve the people of Daneshouse and Stoneyholme.
"I have attended tonight so that the axe is withdrawn and I am here to represent people in my ward and the people of Burnley."
Coun Ahmed, who is currently a member of the licensing and development control committees, said he was would be attending meetings as required in future.
He also confirmed that his parents were now in better health and he did not intend to return to Pakistan in the near future.
The return of Coun Ahmed caused friction between two senior councillors at the meeting.
When Coun Ahmed left the council chamber briefly between items, Coun Darren Reynolds pointed out that "Coun Ahmed has now left us."
But Coun Andy Tatchell, Labour group leader, later called on Coun Reynolds to withdraw his remarks when Coun Ahmed returned a short time later.
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