ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat was shocked to learn on Friday of the lack of coordination between security agencies at local airports.

The general manager of security and vigilance at the Aviation Division, Maj Nadeem Arif, urged the committee to help improve inter-agency coordination to make airports and flights safer.

The committee had met to discuss an inquiry report on the seizure of 27 kilograms of heroin from a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraf t.Mr Arif told the committee that the lack of coordination between the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), Airport Security Force (ASF), Customs and PIA had made their jobs harder, and changes in policy were needed to address the faults.

However, before he could elaborate on security loopholes at airports, the committee chairman Rana Mohammad Hayat Khan interrupted Mr Arif to express his dissatisfaction with the overall performance of airport security agencies.

The committee was disappointed with the performances of the ANF, ASF and Customs authorities, and committee members criticised the `poor` methods of investigation used to identify and penalise security and airport staff involved in the attempt to smuggle 27 kilograms of heroin.

Mr Hayat Khan alleged that security personnel at airports were involved in illegal activities, particularly in the case of the 27 kilograms of heroin that was seizedfrom the rare of the aircraf t, hidden under the oxygen storage panel. `You are all accomplices,` he said.

In May, the sizeable quantity of heroin, contained in nine bags hidden in one large cotton bag, was seized based on information at the Karachi airport. The aircraft was operated from Islamabad and headed to Jeddah, and landed in Karachi for regular maintenance.

A report prepared by a joint investigation team (JIT) made up of ANF, ASF, Customs and PIA representatives pinned the blame on the ASF, as the prime agency responsible for all entry and exit points.

The report said no individual or vehicle is allowed to enter or exit airports without being checked by the ASF.

The report also suggested the bag of heroin may have been hidden in a PIA catering vehicle, which was not checked by ASF staff.

ASF of ficial Liaqat Khan, however, told the committee that the ASF`s primary task is checking for explosives.`Checking for drugs is the primary job of the ANF,` he said, and explained that it was not possible to check each and every lunchbox in the catering van. The ASF instead relies on a certificate from the PIA on the list of items in the catering vehicles to be brought on board the aircraft.

The committee was unsatisfied with both the blame game and the investigations particularly the lack of punishment for suspects. Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar recommended that the suspects be placed on the exit control list immediately, and demanded that the culprits be apprehended and punished without any further delays.

The committee chairman directed to invite ANF Director General Maj Gen Nadir Dilawar Shah, ASF Director General Maj Gen Sohail Ahmad Khan, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Nisar Mehmood Khan and PIA Chairman Azam Saigol to personally explain to the committee the actions taken to punish culprits in the heroin case.