What Pakistan needs is stability for several years. I am old and seen a lot--like @VCheng here-- but even I have not seen such anarchy in Pakistan where EVERY pillar of the State is discredited. That is a very dangerous status for any nation. Pakistan is like Somalia or Afghanistan, politically speaking. But unlike the two countries, Pakistan's geopolitics and large, poor population makes Pakistan a very combustible place. Pakistan still has genuine friends and their advice is to get the house in order before they would help.
To me, it is obvious that Imran will not be allowed to come back to power for the next few years at least, if ever. But putting him in prison and banning his party would be dangerous and an insult to the tens of millions who support him. It is best he goes to a forced-exile for a few years while his party led by sane people like Asad Umar. He is not too old and is a fit, athletic person. He has a good chance for a grand come back. Others had such comebacks before him.
The system will continue to ensure a steady supply of suitable puppets to be rotated in and out of figurehead positions as and when needed, as long as they do not commit the cardinal sin.
