KARACHI: Violence continued for the fifth day in Karachi and the death toll from the current wave of killings rose to 102 on Saturday, DawnNews reported.

At least 13 people were killed in incidents of firing overnight.

Earlier on Friday, the Sindh government authorised the Rangers to exercise the powers of police officers to ‘use necessary force to prevent terrorist acts’ as steps promised and taken hitherto failed to stop killings in Karachi.

During Friday’s violence, the Qasba Colony and adjoining areas remained the worst affected, although the violence spread to the southern and eastern parts of the city and grenade and rocket attacks were also reported.

Scattered arson attacks left at least eight shops burnt in Aligarh Colony on Friday and a commercial centre in Kharadar met the same fate.

The violence forced residents of Qasba Colony and adjoining areas to flee to safe places.

A Sindh Rangers spokesman said personnel of the paramilitary force had helped evacuate hundreds of people trapped in strife-torn areas.

“We are moving the families to safe places and the exercise continues. Rangers troops helped mainly people in Qasba Colony and adjoining areas,” he said.

“More than 100 suspects, many of them with weapons, have been arrested,” home ministry spokesman Sharafuddin Memon said on Saturday, noting that paramilitary troops were in control and patrolling streets in the city’s troubled parts.

Many people who were stranded due to unrest for four days were now going out safely, Memon said.