Re: Why wouldn’t the government merge FATA with the NWFP
They want to arrest Pashtun ......national formation/building by erecting artificial political and administrative divide among them. Moreover, FATA is an excuse to interefer in the affair of Afghanistan and a justification to be "partner"(?) in war on terror. In 1956, at the time of one unit, FATA had been given representation in provincial assembly of West Pakistan and its population had been inflated to a figure of 5 millions to counter East Bangal. So the federal government has defined its status on whims.
Nevertheless, new generatuion and classes have emerged in FATA and they are vehemently demanding the abolition of FATA status and extension of political party act and judicial reforms to FATA. There is great restlessness among FATA inhabitants with regard to this. This is almost the same situation when Pashtuns were demanding political reforms in NWFP back in 1920s, like the rest of British India, and British imperialists were not willing to grant it.
These are the divisions of colonial era kept intact so far by the necessities of Cold War politics and post Cold war transitional period. But they will crumble sooner than expected. Globalization and the changed international political environment simply don't approve adminstrative balckholes like FATA.
If Pakistani rulers are wise, they should resolve this matter by integrating tribals into the mainstream through extension of political party act and representation in provincial assembly before things explode.
It is all the adamancy of the Punjab because it considers Pakistan its empire and its bureaucratic elite is wary of the unity among people.
Other Pakistanis i.e. Baluchis, Sindhis, Urdu-speakers, Pashtuns, Siraikis, Dards, Potoharis, etc. have sympathetic attitude towards FATA.