GIVEN the troubled times the country is passing through, which threaten to go out of hand and destabilise it, one would expect that the COAS General Kayani, who has just concluded his visit to the US, would be questioned about whether he harboured any intention of staging a coup to put an end to the scary phenomenon. It was obvious that in the backdrop of Pakistan's sad history of military interventions and with the kind of stake the US has in its stability, the media and political leadership there would be anxious to know what he has in mind with regard to the open tussle between the PPP and the PML (N), especially post-Sharif brothers' disqualification by the Supreme Court. It is good to hear him tell The New York Times and Congressional leaders that the army would stay out of politics. No doubt, the odium that the public feels against the military rule, repeatedly imposed in the country, and the disgrace with which it has been brought to an end would factor into the thinking of the army top brass should the idea of military takeover crop up. The whole world, including the once ardent supporters of General Musharraf, had come round to accept that it was time the people's voice was heard. The logic against another intervention makes greater sense because it is not even a year when Musharraf was booted out of power in humiliating circumstances. We should keep our fingers crossed and hope that neither the situation gets too bad nor the Bonapartist streak gets the better of the top brass, although General Kayani is known for sticking to his professional role. It is evident, however, that the political leadership, particularly of the two mainstream parties, would have to be extraordinarily mindful of the moves they make whatever the extent of disagreement they have between them. They should invariably keep in mind the priority of keeping things under control. The regional scenario has brought the world focus to Pakistan where political instability would not be acceptable to those fighting the militancy menace. Lest they should get frustrated enough with the political system to start promoting the military alternative.