PPP Backs Tahira Habib Jalib for NA-129 By-Election

Download IPFS

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has announced its support for Tahira Habib Jalib, daughter of renowned poet Habib Jalib, in the upcoming by-election for the National Assembly (NA) constituency NA-129 in Lahore, signaling a strategic move to reconnect with its grassroots base.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has thrown its weight behind Tahira Habib Jalib, daughter of the celebrated revolutionary poet Habib Jalib, for the National Assembly (NA-129) by-election in Lahore, scheduled for September 18, 2025. This decision, announced by the PPP’s local chapter, aims to leverage Tahira’s humble background and her father’s legacy to rekindle the party’s connection with its ideological roots. The seat became vacant following the death of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Azhar, prompting a competitive race with 27 candidates, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Hammad Azhar and another PPP contender, Asif Mahmood Nagra, as confirmed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Tahira, previously a driving school operator and now a taxi driver, represents an unconventional choice for the PPP. Party leaders believe her candidacy could galvanize long-time supporters, emphasizing the party’s commitment to representing ordinary citizens. “Awarding the ticket to Tahira Habib Jalib would reinvigorate the PPP’s old, die-hard workers,” a party spokesperson stated, highlighting the symbolic weight of her nomination. The PPP held a press conference in Lahore on August 11, 2025, where Tahira, alongside PPP leader Faisal Mir, appealed to 30 prominent politicians, intellectuals, and journalists to back her campaign, framing it as a stand for the underprivileged against the ruling elite.

Despite acknowledging the slim chances of victory in NA-129, the PPP sees Tahira’s candidacy as a chance to reclaim political relevance in Punjab. The party’s strategy includes targeting voters disillusioned with the PML-N’s governance, while cautiously navigating its approach toward PTI voters in constituencies where the latter is not contesting. The ECP reports that nomination papers, including those of Tahira and other candidates like PML-N’s Rana Mashhood and Hafiz Mian Nauman, are under scrutiny, with results expected by August 8, 2025.

The by-election is shaping up as a critical test for the PPP, which has struggled to maintain its foothold in Lahore. Tahira’s candidacy, rooted in her father’s legacy of advocating for the common citizen, underscores the party’s attempt to project authenticity and resilience in a highly competitive political landscape.