ISLAMABAD: Expressing annoyance and disapproval on the absence of ministers, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Friday stopped working and returned official protocol as chairman of the upper house. Raza Rabbani stopped working and returned official protocol as Senate chairman to protest against the absence of ministers in the upper house. He also canceled his scheduled visit to Iran on Saturday. The chairman complained that the ministers do not attend the question-hour session in the Senate. He said that tensions between the government and opposition were rising. He directed the Senate Secretariat not to bring any official file to him as he is no longer a chairman. “It seems that the government has some grudge against me,” Rabbani said and added that the Senate is being deprived of its constitutional role. Rabbani offered the government to tender resignation from the chairmanship. The ministers later attempted to approach Rabbani and convince him to resume his work as Senate chairman, but it did not work and the chairman left for home. The Senate session was adjourned for an unspecified period.