The propspects of fat a merger into KP A cost benefit analysis

Abstract

The Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), under which the Federally Administered Tli bal Area (FAT A) of Pakistan is governed, is in direct conflict with the modern democratic system. It deprives the people living in FAT A of their fundamental human rights and forces them to live under a plimitive h"ibal system with a colonial era administrative shLlcture. Changes in the FCR and extensive reforn1s in FAT A were long standing demand not only of the tribal people but also of the human lights and civil society groups throughout the country. In the past, efforts were made several times to refonn the FAT A system but these were either not materialized or insufficient to free hibesmen from the draconian FCR. DUling the last more than three decades, FA TA has served as a basecamp for jihadis, terrorists and militants to fight against the foreign invaders and various Afghan regimes in Afghanistan. The implications of the rising influence of militants in FAT A on the local, regional and global security situation grew with the passage of time. The international community concern about the militants in FATA and Pakistan's own security considerations compelled the government to launch military operations against these militants from time to time. The deteriorating law and order situation in the country as well as in the tribal area compelled the government to take steps for bringing FAT A into the national mainstream. In 2016, the government forn1ed a FAT A Refonns Committee to recommend refonns in the tribal area. The committee after consultation with all the stakeholders recommended merger of FAT A into the KPK province. All political parties except the two core allies of the government, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Patiy (PkMAP), suppOlied the Committee's recommendations. The government postponed the implementation of the Committee's recommendations under the pressure of these two parties. This research thesis looks into the cost and benefits of the merger of FAT A with KPK and the reasons of JUI-F and PkMAP's opposition to the refonns. The drone attacks as a challenge to the country's sovereignty and Afghanistan likely reaction to the refonns in FAT A are also discussed in this study.