Senator Nehal Hashmi, who was recently ousted from the PML-N, on Tuesday submitted his reply before the Supreme Court to a petition concerning his threats against "those investigating" Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family.

The chief justice had taken suo motu notice of a video in which Hashmi was seen apparently warning the individuals conducting a Supreme Court-sanctioned investigation that they will be "taken to task" for grilling the premier's family.

His remarks were, prima facie, directed at the Supreme Court-appointed joint investigation team (JIT) probing the Sharif family's business dealings abroad.

In the petition, filed on Tuesday, the senator defended himself saying he is a "loyal Pakistani with regard for the judiciary". Hashmi added that he has served as an advocate for thirty years and his speech was not an "insult" to the judiciary.

"I only made the speech once but the media replayed it several time," the petition says.

The petition added that Hashmi, being a member of the Karachi Bar and the High Court Bar Association of Sindh, has taken part in "various campaigns and movements for restoration of judiciary and democracy".

In the reply, Hashmi accused Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan for taking his speech out of context.

The senator also alleged that his political opponents are plotting against him and requested the apex court to investigate the matter.

"The court has appointed Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf as a prosecutor in the case," the petition noted, adding that the AG calling on the Sindh government to take action against Hashmi is surprising in this context.

The AGP had written to the Sindh prosecutor general stating that since the speech was made by Hashmi in Karachi, proceedings against him should be initiated there.

"The AG cannot be both prosecutor and party to the case," Hashmi said in his reply.

He also sought the court's stay on criminal proceedings against him and the withdrawal of the show-cause notice issued against him regarding his remarks.