Michael Kugelman, an analyst and scholar on South Asian affairs, is of the view that “the current plan seems to be to squeeze [Imran] Khan by targeting all those around him, and his support base, until his party is hollowed out and he has nothing left to work with-rendering him isolated, weak, fearing for his life, and reduced to using his bully pulpit on social media.

“But he remains a challenge for the civilian and military leadership so long as he remains free. He can still galvanise and mobilise, and try to revitalise the party.

“So the next steps could be to ban the party and disqualify Khan — though both could face challenges in the courts.”