ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday demanded early elections amid the Panamagate probe, doubling down on its calls for resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Speaking to reporters outside the Election Commission here, PTI leaders Babar Awan and Naeem-ul-Haque called for holding of early elections so that the ?public can choose its new leader?.

?We want new elections. The public wants new elections. [It?s time for] PM Nawaz Sharif to resign,? Awan said.

PTI leaders reiterate demand for PM?s resignation

?We [call upon] Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar to resign immediately. We call on Pakistanis to give another push to this system,? he continued.

Referring to the imposition of Section 144 in the capital, the PTI leaders condemned the move.

?We oppose and condemn the imposition of Section 144 here,? they said.

?New allegations are surfacing every day against the Prime Minister. If he doesn?t resign he will have to face the consequences,? said Naeem-ul-Haque.

The district administration on Wednesday imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Islamabad, citing "certain segments of society are planning to take out processions [and] are likely to threaten public peace and tranquility".

The order went into effect immediately for two months.

Section 144 prohibits public gatherings of five or more people, rallies and processions in any public place within the limits of the area where the law has been imposed.