A Sunday Mercury journalist held by the authorities in Pakistan amid claims of espionage has been placed in a lower security facility.

Amardeep Bassey had been held at the Joint Interrogation Centre in Peshawar after he was found not to have the required exit stamp on his visa when he tried to return to Pakistan from Afghanistan.

He had not been allowed visitors, although the British Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad and a consular official had been allowed access.

Now he has been moved to a lower security facility at the Political Agents’ Office in Peshawar following a judicial remand hearing and a report on his case has been filed.

Two Trinity Mirror officials, editorial director Neil Benson, and legal manager Charles Collier-Wright, have now been able to visit him.

Sunday Mercury editor David Brookes told Holdthefrontpage: “They have been able to report that he is in remarkably good spirits.

“He has asked that his family are told not to worry, and hopefully this will all be sorted out soon.”

The Home Interior Minister of the North West Frontier – the province Amardeep was arrested in – will make a decision on the case which will then be rubber stamped by the Interior Minister in Islamabad.

If a decision is not made by noon tomorrow (local time), then a decision will not be made until after the weekend.

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