ISLAMABAD: Fearing a tough battle ahead over the Panama leaks, the government has appointed its own Karamat Niazi as federal secretary of law and justice. Niazi, who is the brain behind the Speaker’s ruling in which he rejected references against PM Nawaz Sharif, has now been tasked with rescuing the government from a possible legal battle. Sources disclosed that former National Assembly Secretary Karamat Niazi was appointed federal law secretary on a 2-year contract soon after the Speaker’s decision on eight references of disqualification of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen. Karamat Niazi was appointed advisor after his retirement as National Assembly Secretary and his term of advisor was also completed but government members, especially Speaker National Assembly and Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid sought his legal opinion on the references. Sources were of the view that Ayaz Sadiq was comfortable with Karamat Niazi as he served as judge as well and knew the all constitutional and legal aspects of such kind of references because he had past experience in these matters. On the advice of Karamat Niazi, Ayaz Sadiq gave a clean chit to Nawaz Sharif in the Panama leaks case in his ruling.