Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Tuesday that his party demands the withdrawal of protocol for the rulers.

Expressing his thoughts in Karachi, Mr Rehman said "The taxes should also be imposed on the feudalists. The free use of electricity and fuel should be stopped. The masses will merely support the rulers if they stop taking perks."

Mr Rehman stressed the need for slashing petroleum and power prices, adding that the red-hot inflation should be ended.

He demanded to take stern action against the sugar and flour mafias.

Taking a swipe at Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Mr Rehman said: "PM Kakar should not befool the nation in line with the inflated prices of power and electricity."

He was optimistic that the people of Karachi could not be divided on the basis of language.

– Greater pressure on masses –

JI Emir Sirajul Haq said on Monday that the people were facing severe economic hardships due to the red-hot inflation.

Expressing his thoughts in Lahore, Mr Haq asserted: "The caretaker and former governments are on the same page in line with the kowtowing to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)." He called for pouring on to the streets for the sake of the people's rights.

"The people are deprived of eating bread two times a day," he lamented.

He made it clear that his party will stage a protest outside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor House on September 18.

– Sirajul Haq calls for cooperation with ECP –

Few days back, Mr Haq stressed the need for cooperation with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in line with holding the general elections within the constitutional term of 90 days.

Expressing his thoughts, Mr Haq was of the view that there was a dire need to hold transparent elections for the sake of stability in the country. "The JI will hold talks with the political parties to reach consensus on timely elections," he added.

He bemoaned the inflated bills and exorbitant price of gas, saying, "Where will the masses go as the price of power has been increased by up to 80 percent? The increase in the price by up to 50 percent has also been announced," Mr Haq rued.

Taking a jibe at the mafias, Mr Haq said, "The mafias had remained part of all the governments. Nobody had tightened the noose around the mafias."