RAWALPINDI, Aug 31: The federal government has decided to build separate barracks in eight central jails for high-profile convicted and under-trial prisoners, an official source said.

An army officer of the rank of major would be appointed as in charge of the high security prison, the source said. The decision was taken in a meeting recently held in Islamabad.

It was also decided that a separate barrack would be constructed inside the Adiala Jail on an experimental basis. Such barracks would be built in the central jails of Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad, etc.

The source said convicts and under-trial prisoners, including those involved in sectarian terrorism, extremists and bombers, would be kept in the high security prisons.

He added that prisoners involved in high-profile activities would not be brought out of their barracks even for trial. They would undergo trial in-camera and would be allowed to meet their relatives or counsel in the barracks.

Close-circuit cameras, explosive detectors and sensitive video cameras, at an estimated cost of Rs40 million, would be installed in and around the prisons.

The source said it had been proposed to appoint serving army officers as in charges of the high security prisons. However, the superintendents of the jails concerned would look after the other prisoners in the jails.