Yup, that seems to be the play. Here’s my prediction of what is to come in this playbook:-
1) IK disqualified in foreign funding case
2) elections called after removing EVMs and overseas Pakistanis right to vote or making their vote toothless
3) next elections heavily rigged against PTI - media and everyone running character assassination campaign
4) NS brought back at some point and SC forgiving him and allowing him to run again (as a function of either new laws or some re-interpretation Qazi Faiez Isa)
5) 4th term NS PM
The spanner in the works is that people have come out on the streets and there has been a populist response. Frankly, this was never part of the play. And it represents fundamental risks for said playbook.
N league supporters can squabble day and night about proving conspiracy etc - it doesn’t matter at this point. Somethings are not proven in courts by judges but are decided by people. The SC and army have already lost a significant portion of their moral authority and continue to do so.
N league folks would be kind to recall if there was a flying f given about NS when he got disqualified. Any people on the streets? Any popular agitation against the powers that be? Well, we can do the experiment and compare that with IK’s disqualification very soon if y’all want.