Karachi, Pakistan - Authorities in Pakistan's southern Sindh province have banned three magazines after accusing them of publishing materials that incite religious hatred, a government official said on Tuesday.
The three right-wing magazines -- Friday Special, Wajood (Existence) and Zarb-e-Islam (Strike of Islam) -- published weekly from the southern port city of Karachi, were closed down on Monday, said a spokesman of the provincial Sindh government.
"These publications were indulging in hate campaigns despite our warnings," said the spokesman.
"We cannot tolerate this. We have taken this step under the Press and Publications Ordinance, as these publications were disturbing the peace and harmony of the city," he added.
The 2002 ordinance gives sweeping powers to the government to ban publications and arrest journalists for publishing or writing anti-government, anti-religion, or obscene articles.
The government has used the ordinance a number of times in recent months. Zarb-e-Momin, another right-wing weekly was banned in July after a crackdown on Islamic militants following the bombings in London.
Last month, President Pervez Musharraf called on people to wage a holy war against preachers of hate and announced steps to curb militant Islamic schools and groups.