Sir: The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) are the most neglected areas of this country. The merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will not just be beneficial for FATA but all of Pakistan. Since 1947, this part of the country has been deprived of any proper government or budget. As a result, every third native of FATA is forced to live below any humane living standard. Almost all civilian leaders and all military leaders are in favour of the aforementioned merger as well as FATA’s local populace. In short, everybody is clear on the proper way to go forward apart from Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mahmood Achakzai. This is nothing but the JUI-F taking its rivalry with the PTI too far, and has nothing to do with giving FATA a better future. It is my request to Rehman and Achakzai that they leave their political rivalries behind when it comes to matters of national interest. The people of FATA have long awaited an improvement in their situation, and the squabbles of politicians shouldn’t be allowed to get in the way. NABILAH ISHAQ Lahore Published in Daily Times, February 11th 2018.