VOTERS in a Bradford Constituency have reacted with confusion after hearing one of the candidates looking to represent them after next month’s election is registered as living in Pakistan.

Azfar Shah Bukhari is among the candidates running in the Bradford West constituency in the election on December 12.

Details provided to voters by Mr Bukhari are minimal - just his name and that he is registered to an address in Pakistan.

There is no party affiliation listed.

A number of voters have got in touch with the Telegraph & Argus to raise concerns that one of the candidates they are being asked to vote for is registered as living in another continent, and has so far not let voters know his political leanings.

In the last election, the Bradford West seat was retained by Labour MP Naz Shah, who received 64.7 per cent of the vote.

She will be defending her seat again at this election, which will be a six-way contest in Bradford West.

The constituency voted 53.2 per cent in favour of remaining in the EU in the 2016 Brexit referendum - despite the Leave vote coming out top in Bradford overall.

Voters contacted the Telegraph & Argus yesterday after receiving their postal ballots, pointing out how little information they have been given about Mr Bukhari.

The Electoral Commission told the T&A people are allowed to run as Parliamentary candidates, even if they don’t live in the country.

A candidate legally has to be over 18 and be a UK, Irish or Commonwealth citizen.

However, they do not have to live in the UK, or even be a registered voter in the UK.

Mr Bukhari is not the only Bradford West Candidate to not have an address in the constituency.

In fact, apart from Ms Shah, every candidate for Bradford West lives in another constituency.

Green Party candidate Darren Parkinson lives in Shipley, as does Brexit Party Candidate Derrik Hodgson.

Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Christie has an address in Skipton & Ripon and Conservative candidate Mohammed Afzal has an address in Pendle.

Bradford West constituent Susan Wright said: “I just think it is completely wrong.

“I’ve never missed voting in an election, and candidates always have to say what their political standings are or what they represent.

“It means anyone in another country could just put their name down to be an MP in the UK.

“I think it’s ridiculous. We have no idea what he represents.

“I think that unless you live in an area you don’t really know what is going on in that area. You care a lot more if you live locally.”

Joseph Pedelko, who lives in Heaton, was also surprised to see a candidate living in Pakistan listed on his ballot.

He said: “I thought ‘this is strange.’

“It just has his name and says he lives in Pakistan, nothing else. It doesn’t look right.

“The first I heard of this candidate was when I saw his name on the ballot. I don’t really understand why he’s running, it doesn’t make sense.”

  • The Telegraph & Argus has been unable to find any contact details for Mr Bukhari. If he or his election agent are reading this, we would invite them to call us on 01274 705292.