Krishna Kumari Kohli has become the first Dalit woman Senator in Pakistan. Kohli from Sindh province is a member of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP.)
The PPP led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced the election of Kohli to the Senate. He further added she was elected to a minority seat from Sindh and will play a vital role in Pakistani politics.
After making history, Kohli said, “I am a human rights activist and I try to highlight the problems faced by the minorities, especially Hindus. The PPP could have nominated any other woman for the seat but they showed they have regard for minorities as well.”
The first Dalit woman Senator said she would use her position to make a bigger impact. Kohli said her agenda as Senator would be to work towards empowerment of women and their health and education.
Reaching the position of a Senator was anything but easy for Krishna Kohli. She comes from Nagarparkar a village in Tharparkar. This village to date deprive women of basic facilities. Kohli has struggled with hunger and poverty and is a victim of bonded labor.
Kohli was determined to gain knowledge and studied at a run down school in her village. Although Kohli was married in the ninth grade, her husband and family were extremely supportive towards her pursuit of education. She has a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Sindh.
Mrs. Kohli dedicated her life to fighting against bonded labor and women’s rights. She also plans to focus her career towards stopping child marriages and forced conversions in Pakistan.
