Let me tell you the other side of the story....
COAS seriously believes that IK closed his eyes on the corruption that involved his family. When he brought the evidences against some of the people who IK still hold very dear and near to him, IK had a very bitter exchange with him and later he asked Bajwa to change this guy.. that was just the beginning.
He also believes that the cypher and VONC were a coincidence.. the VONC preps were going on before cypher came to light.. and that IK took wrong benefit of the cypher.. Although establishment had a role in making VONC successful, the decision was only establishment's with no role of cypher that coincidently arrived around the same time.
He also believes that due to cypher, people started believing that Pak Army serves the interests of the US (which in his opinion is not true)..
He also believes that the cypher story was the main reason of IK's soaring popularity.. otherwise, economy was mishandled by the last govt.
After the assassination attempt, some people informed IK about the role of ISI.. which COAS believes that it was not true. Maj Gen Faisal Naseer was not involved in any assassination attempt.. and this was communicated to IK that his cypher story plus his "supposedly" false allegation is further increasing the hate among people against the Army.. He was first requested not to name and shame Faisal Naseer... but he didn't stop because he believed his sources more than the guarantees given to him by the establishment.
COAS also believes that Imran Khan did not want him to assume the charge of a chief.. and that he wanted Faiz Hameed who according to COAS served IK more and never informed him about his family's corruption..
After he became the COAS, he, through his channel Mr Parvez Ilahi, requested IK to not dissolve assemblies.. The people were not threatened and that's why Parvez Ilahi became the CM... this was also made clear to him that establishment was not managing things in Punjab and that IK was requested to not create chaos which is not acceptable to anyone.. IK rejected their demands and he dissolved the assemblies of Punjab and KPK..
That became the point of no return.. although a few times again it was requested and assured that ISI was not involved in his assassination attempt, or even Arshad Sharif's assassination, but Khan believed his sources more than anyone else.
It is now at the point of no return for both parties.. establishment has lost all the respect among public, while IK's popularity is all time high..
Who is correct... IK's sources or establishment's claims.. we will only know on the judgement day...
By the way, COAS is not a fan of sharifs.. he is a first hand witness of their corruption.... remember he was the ISI chief during Panama case.... the only point that has made him an enemy of IK is IK's bayania that has destroyed the reputation of Pakistan Army..
Please don't judge me when I am writing this.. just presenting the other side that I got to know from some well informed people.