A BURNLEY councillor is facing the axe after failing to turn up for a town hall meeting for six months.

Councillor Zaheer Ahmed, who represents Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward for Labour, has not attended a council meeting since October 24 last year.

Burnley council has now begun the process to remove Coun Ahmed from the council by ordering him to attend the full council meeting on Wednesday to explain his absence.

If he fails to turn up, or does not provide a reasonable excuse, then he could be voted out of office by fellow councillors.

But speaking from the village of Attak in the Punjab region of Pakistan after the Telegraph tracked him down, Coun Ahmed said that he had been there for six months caring for his sick parents.

He said that he intended to fly back to the UK today (Monday) so that he could attend the meeting.

Under council rules any councillor who fails to fulfil their duties for six months must stand down unless they have a reasonable excuse.

Coun Ahmed, who can claim a basic annual allowance of £2,200 for being a councillor, said: "There are a few reasons why I have not been in the country and one of them is that I was looking after my parents in Pakistan who are ill.

"I am coming back because my wife and kids are in England and I have council responsibilities. I did not plan on being there for so long but stayed out there because of the circumstances.

"My parents are feeling better. I have spoke to the officers in the council and the motion probably won't take place because I will be there within the time limit."

He accused the Liberal Democrats of bringing up the matter prematurely because of the upcoming local elections.

This was denied by Liberal Democrat and council leader Gordon Birtwistle, who said that it was not a political move.

Coun Birtwistle said: "The council rules clearly state that if you don't turn up to at meetings for six months you will be disqualified from being a councillor.

"It is normal procedure to start the ball rolling before the expiry of the date and then everything is in place should he not turn up."

Steve Rumbelow, Burnley Council's chief executive, said the legislation does not provide for an appeals procedure but the council will look at the reasons behind Coun Ahmed's absence before making any decisions.

He said: "The legislation makes provision for councillors who do not attend meetings for six months to automatically lose their right to continue to serve unless there is a mitigating explanation put forward.

"The council will then consider any such explanation. If the councillor is voted out this is likely to create a by-election.

"It will take a few months to organise such an election."

Mr Rumbelow refused to give details of allowances claimed by Coun Ahmed in the last six months prior to the meeting.

Labour councillor Shah Hussain, for the same ward, said: "The motion next week is premature because his six months expires on April 24.

"Coun Ahmed is a single child and his father is seriously ill in Pakistan.

"He needed to be there to support his dad.

"He spoke to the council officer before he went and so they are aware of where he is."

Coun Ahmed was elected to Burnley Council in 2006 with a wafer-thin majority.

He polled 1,079 votes to Liberal Democrat Tahir Nawaz's 1,065.