ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Reuter) U.S. drug officials have arrested a senior
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer in New York for allegedly carrying heroin in
a PAF Boeing 707, a military statement said Monday.

The statement by the InterServices Public Relations Department did not give
the date of the arrest of Squadron Leader Mohammad Farooq or state the
purpose of the plane's trip to the United States.

However, a local vernacular newspaper, Khabrain, said the officer was
arrested three days ago and that he had been due to bring to Pakistan spare
parts for U.S.made F16 fighters.

The statement said Farooq was arrested for possessing about 4.4 lbs. of
heroin and that the arrest was ``the result of a proactive program started
by PAF to combat the rapidly increasing specter of drug trafficking.''

It said the plane was returning to Pakistan Tuesday.

The Chief of the Air Staff (Air Chief Marshal Abbas Khattak) has ordered an
immediate highlevel inquiry into this shameful act since it is not only a
breach of law but also undermines military discipline and morale,'' the
statement said.

Disciplinary action as well as other measures to preclude recurrence of such
offenses are being further enforced,'' it added.