Karachi:In order to facilitate security operations and triggering angry reactions from numerous users of the instant messaging applications the authorities in Pakistans southern Sindh province banned Skype, Whatsapp and Viber on Thursday.

The decision to enforce the ban for three months was made at a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to review the law and order situation,sources said.

Following the meeting, provincial Information Minister Sharjeel Memon announced the ban on the use of Skype, Whatspp, Tango and Viber. “Terrorists and criminal elements are using these networks to communicate after the targeted operation was launched (against them),” he said.

Sindhs Home Secretary will contact the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to have these applications banned in the province. According to Memon, the Sindh government would contact the federal government to ensure that illegal SIMs too are shut down.

People described the decision as absurd but Sharmila Farooqi, a leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party that rules Sindh, tweeted it was a small price to pay for security.