Key alter to anti-money laundering bill struck down.

A Senate panel on Friday rejected the government's proposal to allow investigation officers to arrest anyone on money laundering charges without court permission - going back on the decision it had made three weeks ago.

Headed by PPP's Senator Farooq H Naek, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance approved the majority of the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Bill to comply with the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) conditions.

However, it did not approve the amendment to declare money laundering a cognisable offence.

On January 7, the committee had approved the amendment with a thin majority of 5-4 to allow officers to arrest anyone on the suspicion of money laundering without a court warrant.

Senators belonging to...