All eyes are set on PTI Chairman Imran Khan and how he responds to the Supreme Court contempt notice today (Friday).
A more important question probably is what would the entire saga bring and whether the contempt notice would be a boon or bane for Khan.
Intriguingly, it is not just the eyes of political folks and PTI rank and file and supporters that are fixed on the apex court where Khan is scheduled to appear to defend himself, but the government led by the Sharifs has plenty of stakes in the outcome of the case.
With the SC serving a contempt notice on Imran Khan, it seems that the controversy triggered by the rescheduling of the presidential elections is lingering far too much to the dismay of the PML-N government.
The surprise SC move has provided Khan an excellent opportunity to put across his stance on rigging in the May elections at the national level, which he is not ready to put behind. His friends and close aides advised him recently that by agitating over the issue, he was only flogging a dead horse and it was time to move ahead.
But Khan did not give in to the argument. Then came the SC initiative to cut back the schedule of the election, giving Khan an opportunity to take out the cudgels against the judiciary and ECP and justify his stance.
It was a no-holds-barred statement from the PTI leader, as he openly alleged that the judiciary and ECP had a role in the alleged rigging and insisted he wanted the judiciary to investigate the elections in four constituencies identified by the PTI.
Khan should bless his stars that the SC has summoned him for his outburst, as he can drive home his point with a prospect of getting political mileage at a time the politics are dull and the PPP has seized the initiative by boycotting the presidential poll.
Most political analysts say Khan has an opportunity to capitalise and gain limelight as he takes on the courts or vice versa, depending on how he conducts himself.
But there is no retraction or apology expected from Khan.
Some political experts believe that prospect of Khan capturing the limelight cannot be discounted.
“He can emerge as a leader if the case lingers on for some time,” a senior Islamabad-based politician commented. The case could generate a lot of hype with media following the events.
In case Khan sticks to his guns, it would give him an opportunity to press his rigging charges.
This could pose serious question mark on the electoral exercise taken place on May 11, depending upon how the case unfolds.
As such the political circles are not sure what turn the case would take in the volatile politics of the country.
The prospect of Khan gaining political mileage from the case must be a source of concern for the government and Sharifs. There will be every attempt on the part of the government to keep things under control to deprive their nemesis PTI of an opportunity to score political points.
Again, it will also be disturbing for the PML-N to see Khan challenging the election results and pressing his charges of rigging, bringing the whole exercise that brought the PML-N to power in disrepute.
The contempt notice served on Khan is quite different from those served on former prime ministers Yousaf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf, according to politicians.
“It is a political contempt with different connotations for both judiciary and government and even for Khan,” a political leader said.
Meanwhile, Khan must be further regretting the decision to take part in the presidential election when other main opposition parties, especially the PPP, stayed away.