A ROW has developed between two parliamentary rivals after it was revealed one candidate’s sons are being educated in Pakistan.

Interviewed by BBC’s File on Four radio programme, Pendle Liberal Democrat Afzal Anwar made the admission.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands that the boys were previously pupils at Marsden Primary in Nelson.

The revelation came during a tour of the new £25million Marsden Heights Community College in Brierfield, constructed under the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Labour rival Gordon Prentice has criticised the move by the Nelson-born barrister, whose family live in Manchester Road.

Mr Prentice said: “What hope is there for building a cohesive community in this part of Pendle if parents like Afzal Anwar send their sons back to Pakistan to be educated?

“I am genuinely shocked that someone standing for election to the British Parliament does not want his sons to be educated here.”

But Mr Anwar said the situation had arisen from a family tragedy.

His election agent Lord Tony Greaves said: “Last year Afzal’s sister died suddenly.

"This was a huge trauma for the family and Afzal’s wife decided to go to Pakistan for an extended visit to help sort things out in the family.

“She took with her their young sons who are naturally going to school in Pakistan while they are there.

“The family expects to be reunited later this year when the children will resume their education in local schools in Pendle.”

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