DATE=4/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229265
TITLE=PAK U-S (L)
BYLINE=SARAH HORNER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PAKISTAN HAS RELEASED A PAKISTANI EMPLOYEE OF THE U-S 
DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (DEA) WHO WAS CONVICTED LAST YEAR OF 
"ANTI-STATE ACTIVITIES" AND DRUG TRAFFICKING.  AS SARAH HORNER 
REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD, THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAD URGED PAKISTAN TO 
RELEASE THE D-E-A EMPLOYEE.

TEXT:  THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE SAYS IN A PRESS RELEASE IT 
REMITTED AYAZ BALOCH'S SENTENCE FOLLOWING A PETITION FROM THE 
MAN'S WIFE THAT HE BE RELEASED FOR COMPASSIONATE REASONS. 

THE STATEMENT SAYS MR. BALOCH HAD BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF WHAT IT 
CALLS "SEDUCING" A PAKISTAN AIR FORCE OFFICER TO TRAFFIC DRUGS, 
BUT THAT THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF HAS ACCEPTED A MERCY APPEAL 
AND CUT THE UNEXPIRED PORTION OF MR. BALOCH'S SENTENCE.

MR. BALOCH WORKS FOR THE U-S DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AT THE 
AMERICAN EMBASSY IN THE PAKISTANI CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD.

LAST OCTOBER, HE WAS SENTENCED BY AN AIR FORCE COURT MARTIAL TO 
10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT.  IN FEBRUARY, THE SENTENCE WAS CUT TO FIVE
YEARS.  

AT A NEWS BRIEFING (MONDAY), FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN TARIQ 
ALTAF SAID LITTLE ABOUT THE REMISSION OF MR BALOCH'S SENTENCE.

                         // ALTAF ACT //

         AYAZ BALOCH'S RELEASE HAS TAKEN PLACE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
         THE LAW UNDER WHICH HE WAS BEING TRIED.  THE LAW HAS 
         TAKEN ITS OWN COURSE AND HE HAS BEEN RELEASED.

                          // END ACT //

MR BALOCH WAS ARRESTED IN APRIL, 1997 -- SHORTLY AFTER THE ARREST
OF A PAKISTANI AIR FORCE OFFICER IN NEW YORK WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY 
CAUGHT TRYING TO SELL HEROIN TO AN UNDERCOVER U-S GOVERNMENT 
AGENT.

NEWS REPORTS HAVE LINKED THE TWO CASES, ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT 
IN ISLAMABAD HAS DENIED MR BALOCH'S ARREST WAS IN RETALIATION FOR
THE ARREST OF THE PAKISTANI PILOT.

THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN URGING PAKISTAN TO RELEASE MR. 
BALOCH, WHOSE ARREST HAD STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED 
STATES AND PAKISTAN.  A RECENT REPORT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT 
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS BUREAU LINKED U-S GOVERNMENT HELP WITH 
DRUG CONTROL IN PAKISTAN TO THE BALOCH CASE.  THE REPORT SAYS 
UPON THE RELEASE OF THE D-E-A EMPLOYEE -- MR. BALOCH -- THE U-S 
GOVERNMENT WILL BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER RESUMING FINANCIAL 
ASSISTANCE TO DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN PAKISTAN.

U-S GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CONTACTED BY V-O-A SAID THEY HAD JUST 
HEARD ABOUT MR BALOCH'S RELEASE AND HAD  NO  COMMENT ABOUT IT.  
(SIGNED) 

NEB/SLH/LTD/MMK

06-Apr-98 10:15 AM EDT (1415 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.