GUJRAT, Feb 27: Kharian Additional District and Sessions Judge Ghafar Jalil has pardoned a doctor of Lalamusa RHC who apologised for forming a second opinion on two medico-legal certificates in violation of the rules.

A resident of the Karimpura locality of Lalamusa had filed a writ petition against Lalamusa SHO Nasir Cheema and MO Dr Khalid Faiz for siding with six people who, according to an FIR, ransacked his house on Feb 7 and injured his brother Haider and cousin Nasrullah.

Raja Ayub, counsel for petitioner Ghazanfar Ali Shams, said the two officials had tried to release two of the accused and quash the FIR. Dr Khalid issued two separate medico-legal certificates after examining the injuries of Haider and Nasrullah on Feb 7. But on Feb 9, responding to a written request of the investigation officer, he formed a second opinion that the possibility of self-inflicted injuries could not be ruled out.

According to the rules, a single doctor could not form a second opinion and only a medical board could do so on the order of a district and sessions judge.

The complainants recorded statements and provided witnesses, but the police allegedly tried to release two of the accused, Rizwan and Shahzad, with the help of the doctor.

However, a Kharian judicial magistrate turned down the police request and sent the accused to jail, the petitioner said. The investigation officer has been directed to submit a written application to the area magistrate and get the injured examined again according to the rules.