LAHORE  -  In an unprecedented development, NAB on Monday released a photo of arrested bureaucrat Ahad Cheema meeting with his wife, both of them wearing smiles on their faces.

The meeting at the Lahore office of the National Accountability Bureau came a day after Saima Ahad, who is also a senior government officer, expressed serious concern about her husbands’ health – following media reports that Cheema was being denied food and medicines.

During a TV talk show Sunday night, Mrs Ahad defended her spouse, who is facing corruption charges, stating that he was being held on baseless allegations.

“The one-hour meeting was arranged purely on humanitarian grounds,” the spokesperson of the anti-graft body said in a press statement released from the federal capital.

Ahad and Samina were served tea as they talked while sitting next to each other on office chairs.

Suspects in NAB custody are rarely allowed meetings with family or friends.

Moreover, it was unclear whether the photo release – which violated the right to privacy of the individuals – came with the consent of the couple or not.

NAB spokesman said the meeting was arranged only to refute the impression that anti-graft body was dealing with Ahad very harshly.

About the release of the photo, he claimed it was not against the principle of privacy as the meeting took place a public building and not at a private place.

In a press release, NAB authorities said the chairman allowed the meeting on humanitarian grounds and NAB was performing its duties as per law. “[The] Bureau does not believe in treating any accused discriminately…” it added.

The press release said the NAB officials did not interfere in the meeting of husband and wife as the “Bureau is very caring about the self-respect of each individual”.

It further said, “Cheema is quite happy in NAB custody which was evident with the picture released by the authorities.”