ISLAMABAD: All federal and provincial departments will, in future, look over their installations and services lying on the presidential route to clear them of any explosives prior to the use of the way every time. "These departments have been asked to issue NOCs (no-objection certificates) about a certain road or highway whenever the presidential convoy will pass through it," a senior official told The News.

This is one of a host of measures the Rawalpindi police and agencies are taking to ensure foolproof security for the presidential cavalcade in the wake of two assassination attempts on President Pervez Musharraf in a quick succession in busy areas of Rawalpindi last month.

Rawalpindi police are most concerned about these near-kill bids because both took place in the heart of the cantonment, close to the Army House, Musharraf’s official residence in Rawalpindi in his capacity of Chief of the Army Staff.

A senior Rawalpindi police official has written letters to the Postal Department, Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation, electricity and water supply departments and half a dozen other organisations, which have installations and facilities lying on roads or highways the presidential convoy uses.

The letter asked these departments to check the presence of any explosives that might be planted in the installations and issue certificates about their non-presence, accordingly each and every time the road or highway is used by the president in future. "Intense coordination will be required among police, security agencies and these departments to ensure fail-safe security for the presidential cavalcade," the official said.