KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday refused to entertain an unconditional apology submitted before it by Inspector General of Sindh Police (IGP) Ghulam Haider Jamali for his failure to protect the high court when masked policeman in civvies beat the guards of Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and journalists who were covering the violent episode at the court premises on Saturday.

Read: Rangers escort Mirza home on SHC order

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah was hearing a case against IGP Jamali, Additional Inspector General Sindh (AIG) Ghulam Qadir Thebo and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) West Feroze Shah.

Justice Shah came down heavily on IGP Jamali and held him responsible for what he referred to as an "attack on the high court". He said action will be taken against the IGP for his negligence.

He said that the high court had to summon the Rangers to escort Mirza and his wife to their residence because the provincial and city police chiefs could not be reached.

Advocate Salahuddin Ahmed who represented the media persons who were brutally beaten up by the policemen told the court upon inquiry that the ADIG, DIG West, SSP South and senior officers could be seen in the CCTV footage.

Responding to IGP Jamali's statement that action is being taken against those responsible for the violence, Justice Shah remarked, "We will first take action against you. We will not hesitate in dismissing anyone from their rank. You will then have to proceed to the Supreme Court to get yourself reinstated."

Take a look: IGP told to name officer who authorised ‘attack on high court’

The hearing was subsequently adjourned till May 28.

Masked and armed policemen in civvies on Saturday beat Mirza’s guards inside the SHC building and then turned to journalists covering the violent episode.

They also smashed parked vehicles and snatched cameras from journalists.

TV channels showed the masked and armed policemen beating unknown persons and then putting them into police vehicles before speeding away. The journalists were also manhandled while covering the incident.

South Karachi SSP Chaudhry Asad Ali confirmed that masked policemen were associated with the Sindh police’s Special Security Unit (SSU) but it was not explained as to why the commandos had been called.

At least two cameramen associated with ARY News and Mehran TV were injured and taken to a hospital.

The Karachi Press Club and Karachi Union of Journalists had condemned the ‘police brutality’ against journalists.

Also read: CM orders inquiry into manhandling of journalists

There was no official announcement about the number of people arrested from the SHC but MNA Fahmida Mirza claimed that 17 of her security guards had been taken away by police.