MUHAMMAD RAMZAN vs ZULFIQAR AHMAD

This petition for leave to appeal was filed against the judgment of the Lahore High Court, which dismissed the petitioner's civil revision. The primary legal question before the Supreme Court was whether the delay of nine days in filing the petition for leave to appeal could be condoned based on the petitioner's medical condition. The petitioner submitted a medical certificate claiming he was advised complete bed rest for one month; however, the Court found the certificate insufficient to demonstrate that the petitioner was incapacitated to the extent that he could not contact his counsel. Furthermore, the Court noted that the petitioner failed to explain why other male family members could not have facilitated the filing of the petition on his behalf. Consequently, the Court held that the delay was not condonable. The principle laid down is that a mere medical certificate, without demonstrating total incapacity to instruct counsel or showing that no other family member could assist in the legal process, is insufficient grounds to condone a delay in filing a petition for leave to appeal.