However, Hafiz Hamdullah - a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) senator strongly opposed the resolution after it was passed by the House. Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, who was presiding over the session, pointed out that the bill has already been passed by the House without any objection from any party. But the JUI-F senator maintained that his party will resist any such thing, which disgraces the dignity of parents.
He said it will haunt PPP for long as such steps will encourage people giving up their cultural norms, sending their old parents to shelter home just to get rid of them. This is against the very spirit of the Holy Quran where Allah strictly forbids misbehaviour with parents, he said, adding that the government should punish people who abandon their parents when they need them the most.
"This resolution will be injustice to [old] parents besides negating the teachings of Islam...Raja Zafarul Haq and Sardar Zulfikar Khosa will never accept their children to send them to a shelter house when they are old but they quite easily recommended these shelter homes for others parents," he lamented.
Senator Ilyas Bilour of Awami National Party (ANP) said: "Be curse of Allah on those who abandon their beloved parents after their bringing up with such care. "I agree with the proposal with heavy heart but at the same time I curse on those offspring who put their parents at shelter houses listening to their wives and all those who have no guts to look after their parents," he added.
Raja Zafarul Haq of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also endorsed the resolution saying there must be some shelter for the senior citizens, who sometimes become shelter-less. He proposed that the senior citizens must be given some incentives so that they could not become dependent on the society.
Senator Raza Rabbani of PPP said Pakistan came into being as a welfare state but afterwards it turned into a national security state. As a result of our failures in making Pakistan a welfare state, he added, the concept of fragmented welfare is taking roots. "These [shelter] houses must be constructed as senior citizens, sometimes face great hardships," he asserted.
Senator Hasil Bizenjo also seconded Raza Rabbani, saying senior citizens must not be made vulnerable to society. These people really become helpless when they see nobody around at a time when they need someone, and the government should take immediate steps to lessen their miseries, as it is the responsibility of the state to protect the rights of citizens, he added.
Haji Adeel of ANP stressed the need to strengthen family system of the country. There are two categories of children, he added, one who resort to such an extreme step though they have ample resources to take care of them while the second is the one who could not afford to look after their old parents. "The people in the first category must feel ashamed while shifting their parents to shelters while the government must take some steps for those who could not afford," he added. The House was adjourned to meet again on Wednesday at 4pm.