What will this accomplish? Silencing some prominent people for a while via arresting their family members? It only makes the situation worse, because without any other change in the political-economy, people are just left with harmless venting for which they are being singled out.
The unprecedented moves shock the national psyche over and over again. Many older Pakistanis will see today’s Pakistan like East Germany in the 80s; can’t deliver economically so doubles down over and over again on these methods. Reminders me of the film Goodbye Lenin, as to how much could change once this period passes and the people demand a complete change of the society.