unlicensed hotels phuket
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Unlicensed Hotels in Phuket Targeted as Thai Government Expands Nominee Investigations

ByJustpaste.in

Phuket—

Deputy Interior Minister Polpree Suwanchawee has intensified efforts to dismantle nominee business structures in Thailand, leading a high-profile inspection of hotels in Phuket suspected of foreign-controlled ownership. The campaign is part of the government’s stance that “Thailand’s land must belong to Thai people.”

During the inspection of hotels across three districts in Phuket, authorities discovered three establishments operating without valid hotel licenses. Some had construction permits for condominiums or residential buildings but were illegally converted into hotels. Investigators also flagged suspicious shareholder structures, raising concerns about nominee arrangements designed to circumvent laws restricting foreign ownership. Financial trails linked to these businesses are now under review.

Polpree revealed that during one inspection, individuals claiming to represent “powerful figures” attempted to intervene and halt enforcement. He stressed that officials cannot ignore violations witnessed firsthand, reiterating that lawful operators will be protected while offenders face prosecution without exception. “No influence should interfere with the enforcement of the law,” he declared.

Local officials acknowledged complaints from operators about lengthy licensing processes. The Phuket provincial administration has accelerated the review of pending applications, clearing a significant backlog. However, businesses that never applied for licenses remain subject to legal action.

The Interior Ministry has ordered coordinated action with the Royal Thai Police, Ministry of Commerce, Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Land Department, and Department of Provincial Administration. The joint task force will expand investigations into nominee networks, property holdings, and financial flows of foreign investors nationwide. In Phuket, scrutiny will also extend to cannabis shops and other enterprises suspected of violating Thai law.

Related article:

Authorities in Phuket have intensified inspections against unlawful hotel operations, uncovering three establishments running without proper licenses.

The original version of this article appeared on our sister website, The Phuket Express, owned by our parent company TPN media.

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    PERA’s proposed training academy puts 200 acres of fertile farmland, homes and wildlife breeding facilities at risk

    ByJustpaste.in

    CHAKWAL: A proposed training academy of the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) near Kallar Kahar has sparked concern among local residents, farmers and wildlife conservationists, as the site selected for the project comprises around 200 acres of fertile agricultural land, several homes, livestock farms and wildlife breeding facilities. The Punjab government has allocated Rs6.786 billion for the construction of the PERA training academy near Kallar Kahar, while Rs10 million has reportedly been released for the current financial year.     The proposed site, located along the Kallar Kahar-Talagang Road, was selected despite the availability of alternative locations, raising questions about the decision to choose an area that is not only inhabited but also serves as an important habitat for wildlife. The move has also left local PML-N MNA Sardar Ghulam Abbas and officials of the Punjab Wildlife Department apparently unable to prevent the proposed construction at the selected site. For 91-year-old Dost Muhammad, who has spent his life overcoming hardships, the latest development has become a source of deep anxiety. His family of around 40 members, along with their livestock, now faces the prospect of eviction from their ancestral land following a recent demarcation carried out for the proposed academy.   A few days ago, Dost Muhammad and his sons were constructing a cattle shed on their land. However, they have now abandoned the work after officials from the Punjab Revenue Department marked the boundaries of the proposed site. According to a letter available with Minute Mirror, PERA had requested the deputy commissioner of Chakwal on June 9 to initiate the process of acquiring land at a “suitable location in the pleasant hilly area of Kallar Kahar” for the construction of its training academy.   Following the request of the PERA director general, the district administration identified 1,568 kanals, or approximately 200 acres, along the Kallar Kahar-Talagang Road. Residents say the demarcation was carried out without adequately considering that the land is fertile agricultural property and is home to around 20 families. The area also serves as an important habitat for wildlife and contains two wildlife breeding farms and a private game reserve. Dost Muhammad is not the only resident facing uncertainty. At least 19 other families living in the area are also reportedly at risk of losing their homes. The demarcation has also raised concerns among wildlife conservationists, as two breeding farms for urial, chinkara and partridge have reportedly fallen within the proposed project area. “We are six brothers. We purchased 24 kanals of land in 2018 and constructed our houses after obtaining a loan of Rs3 million under a scheme launched by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Now our houses are facing demolition,” said Raja Mohammad Farooq, who recently completed construction of his house. The issue is particularly serious for farmers in the hilly Kallar Kahar tehsil, where cultivable land is already limited. “I own only four acres of land, from which I produce wheat for my family and fodder for my livestock throughout the year. My entire four acres have been included in the demarcated area. If the proposed academy is built on my land, where will I get wheat for my family and fodder for my livestock?” asked 62-year-old Ghulam Shabbir, a resident of Ratta village. Imtiaz Ahmed, who operates a cement-block plant and also keeps a flock of sheep, is similarly worried about his livelihood. “I sold four rams this year, but now my farm and plant are at risk of demolition,” he said anxiously. Malik Mukhtar Haider, who has been running a community-based conservation (CBC) initiative and two wildlife breeding farms for several years, said he had devoted his life to protecting wildlife and the natural environment. “I have spent my entire life working for the protection of wildlife and the natural environment, but the proposed construction of the PERA training academy has put my decades-long efforts at risk,” he said. Officials of the Punjab Wildlife Department have also expressed surprise over the selection of the site, questioning how an area serving as a wildlife refuge could have been chosen for the construction of a training academy. “The demarcated area is not only an important habitat for various wildlife species, including the rare Punjab urial, but also contains two breeding farms and flora and fauna that have been nurtured through more than two decades of sustained efforts,” Assistant Chief Wildlife Ranger Abid Hussain told Dawn. He questioned the rationale behind selecting the area and said the development appeared to undermine the conservation efforts being carried out by Malik Mukhtar Haider through his CBC initiative and breeding farms. “If government institutions themselves are bent on destroying wildlife habitats, then who will protect them?” he asked. Meanwhile, the district administration and local parliamentarians appear to have been unable to halt the proposed construction at the selected site. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Chakwal Sara Hayat said the district administration had proposed three possible locations, but PERA had selected the present site. “We have to comply with the directions issued by the higher authorities,” she said. The proposed project has thus triggered a debate over the selection of public land for government infrastructure, with residents questioning why fertile agricultural land, inhabited settlements and an established wildlife habitat were chosen despite the reported availability of alternative sites.

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    Police officer martyred in gun attack near Jamali …

    ByJustpaste.in

    A police officer was martyred after unidentified gunmen opened fire on two policemen near Jamali Bridge on Karachi’s Super Highway on Monday. The attack has prompted senior police officials and the Sindh government to order an immediate investigation and intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible. According to police, the two officers were deployed on duty near Jamali Bridge when unidentified assailants riding a motorcycle approached and opened indiscriminate fire. Constable Zaman, who was serving at Site-A Police Station, sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. His fellow officer survived the attack without injury. Authorities have not yet confirmed the motive behind the shooting, and an investigation is underway to determine whether the incident was a targeted attack or linked to other criminal activity. Police have begun collecting evidence from the crime scene and reviewing available information to identify the suspects. Following the incident, Inspector General (IG) Sindh Javed Alam Odho took immediate notice of the attack and directed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) East to submit a detailed report without delay. The IG instructed law enforcement officials to ensure that those involved in the attack are arrested and brought to justice as quickly as possible. The police chief also ordered investigators to utilize all available resources, including modern technology, intelligence networks, and investigative tools, to trace and capture the suspects. He further directed police units to strengthen patrolling, checkpoint operations, and snap checking across the area while maintaining strict surveillance of suspicious individuals and vehicles. Separately, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar also sought an immediate report from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East regarding the incident. He emphasized that every available resource should be employed to identify and arrest the attackers and ensure they face the full force of the law. The home minister instructed police to make effective use of intelligence information, forensic techniques, and modern investigative methods during the operation. He also called for enhanced police patrols, tighter security measures, and increased monitoring of suspicious activity to prevent similar incidents. Paying tribute to the fallen officer, Lanjar said the sacrifice of police personnel would not be forgotten and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to pursuing those responsible. The attack highlights the continued security challenges faced by law enforcement officers in Karachi, where police personnel remain on the frontline against crime and violence. Investigations into the shooting are ongoing, and authorities have yet to announce any arrests.

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    Barrister Gohar again seeks permission to meet PTI…

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    PTI will win even if Pakistan has 100 provinces, B…

    ByJustpaste.in

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    Heavy rains trigger NDMA flood warning for multipl…

    ByJustpaste.in

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    PTI seeks LHC order for August 5 Minar-e-Pakistan …

    ByJustpaste.in

    LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has moved the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking judicial intervention after the Lahore district administration allegedly failed to decide its application for permission to hold a public rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on August 5. The constitutional petition, filed by PTI Lahore President Mian Usman Akram through legal counsel, names the Deputy Commissioner Lahore and other relevant government authorities as respondents. The party argues that the delay has created uncertainty over one of its planned political gatherings at a time of increasing political activity across the country. According to the petition, PTI submitted its application to the Deputy Commissioner’s office on July 22, requesting official permission to organize a peaceful public rally at the historic Minar-e-Pakistan. However, despite the passage of several days, the district administration has neither approved nor rejected the request. The petitioner contends that the prolonged silence from the authorities amounts to an arbitrary exercise of power and effectively prevents the party from exercising its constitutional rights. It argues that every citizen and political party is entitled to hold peaceful public meetings and political gatherings, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law. PTI maintains that administrative authorities cannot deny constitutional freedoms simply by delaying decisions on lawful applications. The petition states that the failure to issue a timely decision has deprived the party of sufficient time to make arrangements for the proposed gathering and has created unnecessary legal uncertainty. The petition further argues that public assemblies are an essential component of a democratic society, allowing political parties to communicate with supporters and present their views peacefully. It says government officials are legally required to act fairly, transparently, and within a reasonable timeframe while deciding such applications. Seeking judicial relief, PTI has asked the Lahore High Court to direct the Deputy Commissioner Lahore to decide the pending application for the August 5 rally without further delay. The party has also requested the court to declare the prolonged inaction unconstitutional, unlawful, and without legal authority. In addition, the petition urges the court to ensure that the respondents perform their statutory duties in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws, enabling the party to exercise its democratic and political rights through a peaceful public gathering. The case is expected to come before the Lahore High Court in the coming days. The court’s decision could determine whether the district administration must promptly rule on PTI’s request ahead of the proposed August 5 rally. At the time of filing, no official response had been issued by the Lahore district administration regarding the allegations made in the petition.

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