ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Parliamentary leader of the People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) Mian Raza Rabbani on Wednesday formally assumed the charge of the opposition leader in the Senate and took possession of his chamber in the Parliament House.

Mr Rabbani, who was appointed as the opposition leader in the Senate by chairman Mohammadmian Soomro on Monday after a delay of about two years, spent a busy day in his chamber receiving felicitations from a large number of treasury and opposition members.

Prominent among those who visited Mr Rabbani in his chamber were acting parliamentary leader of the PML-N in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, PPP Secretary General Raja Pervez Ashraf, MNAs Syed Nayyar Bokhari, Zamarrud Khan, PPP Senator Rukhsana Zuberi, PML-N senators Sadia Abbasi and Sardar Mahtab Abbasi, MMA Senator Rahmatullah Khan Kakar, Senator Raza Mohammad Raza of the Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party and ruling PML Senator Naeem Hussain Chattha. ARD parliamentary secretary Izhar Amrohvi was also present on the occasion.

According to a source, Mr Rabbani has been authorized to use official vehicle, two peons, one personal assistant, one private secretary and he will get the salary equivalent to that of a federal minister.

Meanwhile, interviews with some PPP activists and local office-bearers revealed that majority of them were unhappy over Mr Rabbani's decision to accept the post of the opposition leader at a time when the party was talking about launching an agitation movement against the government.

They were of the view that Mr Rabbani's decision could harm the anti-government movement as it was being seen in the backdrop of a deal between the government and the PPP.