Washington Daily News

Two civil servants holding minor positions in the Embassy of strife-torn Pakistan here have been discharged for reasons of misconduct apparently because one of them attended a congressional hearing on the Pakistani situation and the other a peaceful rally . Both men are Bengali the faction from East Pakistan seeking independence in the face of crushing government military might. Since March 25, thousands of Bengalis have been reportedly killed or maimed from bullets starvation and disease. Hundreds of thousands meanwhile have taken refuge in India which is sympathetic to the Bengali secessionist movement.

Abdur Razzaque Kahan 34 of Arlington contends he was fired yesterday from his job as assistant education officer because he attended a House subcommittee hearing which dealt with the Pakistani civil war on May 11. Mr. Kahan whose wife is expecting their second child has worked in the embassy since February, 1964.

The other man discharged was Ghausuddin Ahmed who worked at the embassy since October 1965 as a courier and an assistant in the accounts division. He was dismissed in April shortly after he took part in a rally held by Bengali sympathizers at the Capitol and the White House. He has since moved to New York City and was unavailable for comment .

The embassy press attache confirmed the discharges but refused to amplify the charges against the men. All he would say was that nobody's fired because he's an East Pakistani fundamentally.

He said however no employee of the government of Pakistan can participated in anything to do with polities. This is part of the fundamental structure of our government.

The press attache described Messrs. Kahan and Ahmed as both locally recruited. They have no long-term contract with the government no pensions or claims. We keep these kind of people on as long as they behave themselves. Referring to Mr. Kahan s attendance at the House hearing the attache declared: He has no business to be in those areas. There was a lack of discipline.

Mr. Kahan said he requested and was granted a leave of absence on May 11 to attend the House hearing. So I couldn't think why they fired me. They've always appreciated my work. I have letters of commendation. But now they can say anything. They told me that my going there was an act of insubordination.