Amardeep Bassey, the Sunday Mercury journalist held in Pakistan amid claims of spying, is expected to be released without charge by Tuesday.

After reviewing a report of Amardeep’s case, based on his interrogation, the Home Secretary of the North West Frontier Province has recommended that the journalist be deported immediately.

This recommendation must now be rubber-stamped by the Interior Ministry in Islamabad.

It is unlikely that a formal decision will be made before Sunday, but Amardeep (pictured) is expected to be free by Tuesday.

Sunday Mercury editor David Brookes said: “We’re greatly relieved Amardeep will soon be back in Britain. It’s the news his family, friends and colleagues have been waiting for.

“Thankfully the Pakistani authorities have seen sense and now realise that Amardeep is a bona fide journalist and not a spy.”

Amardeep is currently being held at the Political Agents’ Office in Peshawar.

Word of his likely release has been sent to him by Trinity Mirror officials in Islamabad, through a local journalist, and he is said to be “relieved and delighted”.

The Sunday Mercury investigations editor was detained in the border town of Torkham when he tried to return to Pakistan from Afghanistan and authorities examined his passport and found he did not have the required exit stamp on his visa.

He had been reporting on the upheavals in the war-torn nation from the capital Kabul, and had been due to return to Britain last weekend.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]