Sunday Mercury journalist Amardeep Bassey took a step towards freedom today as his deportation was arranged by the Pakistan authorities.

He has been held for 28 days after attempting to return to Pakistan from Afghanistan without the required exit stamp on his visa.

Mercury deputy editor Paul Cole said: “His release papers have been signed ready for his deportation.

“He will be held in custody until the flight is arranged and we are working with the British High Commissioner to organise that as soon as possible. He is still within the precincts of the jail in Peshawar.”

He said the next direct flight to the UK was on Saturday but Mercury staff were making efforts to secure a connecting flight to get him safely home before then.

“We have spoken to him briefly – he seems in remarkably good condition after 28 days,” he added.

Amardeep is the Sunday Mercury’s investigations editor and was detained in the border town of Torkham on May 10.

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

He was questioned over allegations of spying, but following a judicial remand hearing, the Home Secretary of the North West Frontier Province recommended that he should be deported, and this was approved by the Interior Ministry in Islamabad.

The delays were over bureaucratic problems in “rubber-stamping” his release papers.

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