The Government has reassured the public that fairness and transparency in land allocation will remain uncompromised, even as a police-led criminal investigation unfolds at the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).

Chief Spokesperson Heena Waleed announced on X that in order to facilitate the investigation, HDC’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, and all board members except the chairman have been suspended. She affirmed that none of the rights of land allottees under the Binveriya Scheme have been or will be violated.

The investigation was prompted by allegations of irregularities in land allocations, including claims that a plot was assigned to someone outside the approved beneficiary list. These allegations were amplified by social media posts suggesting a link to Fazul's family.

Addressing the accusations on Wednesday night, Fazul denied any wrongdoing, asserting that HDC’s role is limited to verifying applications submitted through its portal. He clarified that all land allocation decisions are made by the Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development, and emphasised that no plots can be assigned without the ministry’s approval.

Fazul also explained that the recent controversy stemmed from two individuals applying for the same land plot. The issue was escalated to the Housing Ministry for verification, ensuring compliance with established procedures. Documents concerning the disputed plots, which circulated online, were part of routine procedural checks, Fazul said.

PCB’s decision to suspend HDC board members in the wake of the ongoing investigation is a reflection of the Government’s commitment to maintaining integrity of the Binveriya Scheme, with focus remaining on ensuring the land allocation process is conducted fairly and that public trust in housing initiatives remains intact.