Former servant turns politician

Veero Kolhi sweeps her modest mud house in Pakistan's Sindh province.... work she used to do for someone else.

Kolhi spent most of her life as a bonded labourer- working for a landlord to pay off debts- a practice akin to modern day serfdom.

But since escaping from her landlord about 20 years ago, Kohli has set her sights on bigger accomplishments... politics.

Last week she filed a request, and was granted permission, to run as a candidate for her local provincial assembly.

Her aim, to draw attention to the plight of the country's some 8 million bonded labourers.

(SOUNDBITE) (Sindhi) WOMAN JOINING ELECTION RACE VEERO KOHLI, SAYING:

"I was a bonded labourer myself. I know what kind of tyranny they face. That is why I have decided to stand in the elections. People are approving that a peasant woman who has got freedom from bonded labour is standing in the elections, they are appreciating it."

Villagers in Azad Nagar, most of whom are themselves f