AROUND 400 people enjoyed a celebration dinner to mark the independence of Pakistan.

Guests at the event on Tuesday night at Nelson Civic Theatre included Gordon Prentice and Peter Pike, MPs for Pendle and Burnley respectively, Pendle councillors and the Pakistani consul Jamil Amad Khan. The Mayors of Pendle and Burnley, Councillors Ian Gilhespy and Rafique Malik, were also among the guests at the meal which was organised by Labour councillor Rashid Qadri who represents Whitefield ward, Nelson.

Pictured, from left, are Coun Rashid Qadri, Burnley MP Peter Pike, Coun Colin Waite, Coun Azhar Ali, Mohammed Ashraf, Abdul, Aziz, Rehmat Khan, Mohammed Akram and Mohammed Tariq.