The Pakistani government on Saturday banned three Islamic militant groups and began sealing off more than 300 offices used by the organisations, reported CNN.

The decision to ban the groups was taken after a high-level meeting between security officials and President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

The banned groups are Islami Tehreek Pakistan, Milat-e-Islami Pakistan and Khudamul Islam.

Jamatul Dawa has been put on a watch list, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said.

On Thursday, the US ambassador to Pakistan, Nancy Powell, had raised concerns that militant groups previously banned by the Pakistani government were re-emerging under new names.