Hundreds of people stranded by five days of violence in Pakistani port city Karachi have been rescued by paramilitary forces on Saturday as continued ethnic clashes claimed 100 lives.

Thousands of people have been stuck in the violence- hit areas of the city unable to move out as groups of heavily-armed people traded fire rockets at each other, paralysing the country’s financial capital.

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

Five more people were killed in the overnight incident of firing, taking the death toll to 100, police sources said.

On Friday 30 people were killed on the fourth day of violence.

Many families were willing to abandon their homes even at the risk of their properties being taken over by miscreants, but could not do so for fear of life because of the intense firing.

Paramilitary Rangers took positions late last night in the most affected areas — Orangai town, Qasba Colony and Kati Pahari and started “targeted actions” and also detained several people, police said.