I literally cannot say Imran Khan’s name on Pakistani TV – this madness has to end | Hamid Mir

Whoever wins in the confrontation between the former prime minister and the army, both sides are to blame for trying to gag criticism

• Hamid Mir is a Pakistani TV news anchor and author

I am not a big fan of Imran Khan. I have long criticised Pakistan's former prime minister, but now it is becoming difficult to do so. There is a de facto ban on referring to him in the media, meaning we are no longer allowed to mention his name or show his picture. Pakistani TV channels are not allowed to interview him or air his statements. This is the result of a series of directives issued by the media regulator.

As prime minister, Imran Khan tried to turn Pakistan from a struggling democracy into an autocracy. His successor, Shehbaz Sharif, appears to be following in his footsteps.