From around 2010-2021 he was favoured by establishment. His biggest mistake was accepting them and becoming PM on their terms, and then trying to do his marzi rather than listen to the boot.
It's disappointing to see that someone can have all the education and exposure in the world and then be an army puppet. I can excuse Maryam and Bilawal for this because they come from a very feudal background, it is in their nature to do anything for the kursi.
However, what still sets him apart from other civilian options is that he's been burnt once and he's not even willing to cut a deal to come out of jail.
On the other hand, Sharifs have been repeatedly manhandled by Army yet are happy to play the puppet as long as they get Punjab and centre. Bhuttos got hanged and shot and same, happy to play puppet as long as they keep Sindh. In short they keep coming back to eat from the hand that slaps them.
Its because he tried to come to power from 1996 but noone voted from him. The most seats he won was 1, this was when Imran Khan was young, famous, recently won world cup etc but still people did not vote for him. In Pakistan people vote for powerful people, this is when the strategy changed to working with the establishment since the establishment too wanted a 3rd party to weaken Pmln PPP nexus, especially after Gen Musharaff time. I don't see anything wrong by working with the establishment, but a party needs to stand its ground on their principles so afterwards no issues take place, you cannot turn from Yes Sir to No Sir when in power.
From 2011 till 2021 PTI received tv coverage on all channels, a new revolutionary party etc and young people went for it, the party praised judiciary and military, even after coming to power they praised them all until when it was their own time to go down. No doubt they helped him get to power and then when they had major disagreements they stopped giving their backing and PDM took the rest. All the 200 MNAs MPAs who left PPP Pmlq Pmln to join Pti wouldn't have joined without blessings from above, this is why they all left.
Nawaz/Zardari and the rest are politicians, they want to stay as politicians, maintain their power. This is what makes them find the middleway, give and take but atleast stay in power. Nawaz did try removing a general before to place his favourite one in power and we all know what happened afterwards, Imran Khan as alleged tried the same move.
The establishment used this crisis to their advantage, overtook the state and installed a hybrid regime, constitution is being used as a tissue paper.