Expert Legal Guidance for Filing SLPs in the Supreme Court of Pakistan
A Special Leave Petition (SLP) is a petition filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan under Article 185(3) of the Constitution, seeking the Court's permission (leave) to appeal against a judgment, decree, or final order of a High Court.
Unlike a regular appeal — which is a matter of right in certain cases — an SLP is discretionary. The Supreme Court is not obligated to hear every petition. Leave is granted only when the Court is satisfied that a substantial question of law of general public importance is involved, or that the interests of justice require its intervention. This makes the quality of the SLP petition and the expertise of the Supreme Court advocate absolutely critical.
Constitutional Authority:
Article 185(3) — "Subject to clauses (1) and (2), an appeal to the Supreme Court from any judgment, decree, final order or sentence of a High Court shall lie, if the Supreme Court grants leave to appeal."
The 30-day limitation period runs from the date of the HC order, not from when you learn about it. Missing this deadline can permanently bar you from SC appeal.
Call Now — +92 300 000 0000An SLP is appropriate only in specific circumstances. Filing without proper grounds wastes time and money. Our SC lawyers assess SLP viability before you commit to filing.
Valid Ground
The HC judgment involves a novel or important question of law that needs Supreme Court clarification for consistent application across Pakistan.
Valid Ground
The HC judgment is clearly contrary to an existing Supreme Court judgment (binding precedent). The SC will likely grant leave to correct the error.
Valid Ground
The HC judgment involves a violation of a Fundamental Right guaranteed under Chapter 1 of Part II of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Valid Ground
The HC exceeded its jurisdiction or refused to exercise jurisdiction it was legally bound to exercise.
Not Valid Ground
The SC is not a court of facts. If your grievance is only about how the HC appreciated evidence (not a question of law), the SLP will not succeed.
Not Valid Ground
Filing an SLP merely because you disagree with the HC outcome — without a genuine legal question — results in dismissal of the SLP with costs.
Immediately after the HC judgment, apply for and obtain a certified copy from the HC Registry. This is a prerequisite for filing the SLP and counts toward the limitation period.
Your SC advocate drafts the SLP containing: case background, grounds of appeal (questions of law), brief arguments, and reliefs sought. This document must be meticulously drafted to convince the SC bench to grant leave.
The SLP, along with supporting documents (vakalatnama, affidavit, certified HC order, copies for all respondents, and court fee), is filed at the Supreme Court Registry in Constitution Avenue, Islamabad.
The SC Registry issues notices to all respondents. Proper service of process must be completed and proof filed before the case can be listed for a preliminary hearing.
A SC bench examines the petition to decide whether to grant or refuse leave. Your advocate argues why leave should be granted. This is the most critical stage — the SC may dismiss without granting leave.
If leave is granted, the case proceeds to full hearing where both sides make complete arguments on the merits. The SC then pronounces its final judgment, which is binding and final.
| Feature | SLP | Regular Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Right to be heard | No (Discretionary) | Yes (As of right in some cases) |
| Ground required | Substantial question of law | General grounds of appeal |
| Leave required | Yes — court decides | Generally No |
| Time limit | 30 days from HC order | 30–60 days (varies) |
| Success rate | Lower (SC selective) | Higher (full hearing) |
| Cost | Higher (SC fees + advocate) | Lower (HC level) |
Every SLP lawyer in our panel holds Supreme Court of Pakistan enrollment — the highest bar qualification in the country.
Minimum 10 years of active practice with proven experience in SC filings, leave hearings, and full merit arguments.
We can mobilize for urgent SLP filing within 24 hours. Critical for cases where the 30-day deadline is approaching.
Your consultation and instructions remain completely anonymous. Our SC lawyers work on your behalf without identity disclosure.
Clear, upfront fee structure for SLP filing, appearance fees, and hearing fees — no surprise bills at any stage.
Overseas Pakistanis can instruct our SC lawyers remotely via WhatsApp / video consultation. No need to travel to Pakistan.
* Fees are approximate. Exact quotes provided after case assessment. All fees in PKR.
* Timelines are indicative. SC scheduling depends on court docket and bench availability.
Don't wait. The 30-day deadline to file your SLP starts running from the day of the HC order. Call our SC lawyer team immediately.