The Sindh High Court will announce verdict regarding payment of final cash dividend and bonus shares of Allied Bank of Pakistan, on Monday. According to a notice sent to Karachi Stock Exchange by the Bank, the shareholders of ABL in their 65th annual general meeting held on March 16, 2011 had approved 20 percent final cash dividend and 10 percent bonus share.
However, M/s Fateh Textile Mills and others filed suite No 376/2011 in the High Court of Sindh praying to restrict implementation on this decision. The Sindh High Court in its stay order March 16, 2011 restrained the ABL from payment of cash dividend and bonus share.
According to ABL notice, the order was an ex parte order passed without hearing the Bank's version. The Bank has since then filed all required replies and the matter has been argued at length by the bank's counsel in response to the arguments of the counsel of Fateh Group.
Another hearing was fixed on April 21, 2011, for disposal of the stay application, however the counsel for the Fateh Group did not appear claiming indisposition. Now, the court has fixed the hearing on Monday April 25, 2011, with no further adjournment. "We are confident that the restraining order against payment of dividend will be recalled on the next date," the ABL notice said. The Bank has assured that as soon as the restraining order is vacated the bank will make payment of the approved dividend through dispatch of dividend warrants and bonus shares.