The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has in its hands a rare opportunity to reconnect with the very people it once championed — the workers, the poor, the underprivileged — by awarding its NA-129 ticket to Tahira Habib Jalib.

Tahira is not a career politician, nor does she hail from a wealthy political dynasty. She is the daughter of Habib Jalib, the revolutionary poet whose verses became the voice of the oppressed. Her life story is a stark departure from the usual political profile: she once ran an all-women driving school in Mustafa Town and now earns her livelihood behind the wheel of a taxi. Hers is a working-class struggle, lived every single day, without the safety net of privilege.

In an age where political parties are often criticised for recycling candidates from elite backgrounds, the PPP has an opportunity to prove it is different. Awarding Tahira the ticket would signal a genuine commitment to representing the ordinary Pakistani, rather than perpetuating the dominance of the entrenched political class. It would show voters that the party’s rhetoric about equality and justice still has substance.

This choice is not just about electoral arithmetic. In Central Punjab — a region where the PPP has struggled to regain its footing — such a move could breathe new life into the party’s base. It would serve as a reminder that the PPP was built on the ideals of empowerment for those without wealth or connections, and that those ideals still matter.

The symbolism of nominating the daughter of Habib Jalib cannot be overstated. It would be a tribute to a man who dedicated his life and words to the downtrodden, while also offering voters a candidate who knows, first-hand, the challenges they face.

This is precisely why her candidacy has found strong backing within the party, most notably from PPP leader Faisal Mir, who has stood firmly by her side. At a press conference in Lahore, Tahira and Faisal Mir will be jointly appealing to thirty prominent politicians, intellectuals, and journalists to endorse her nomination, emphasising that she represents the underprivileged class of Pakistan.

Faisal Mir will also lead her campaign under a striking slogan:

“Support taxi driver Tahira Habib Jalib or support the ruling class politician.”

If the PPP is serious about reviving its credibility and reconnecting with the masses, then in NA-129, there should be no hesitation: Tahira Habib Jalib is the candidate who best embodies the party’s spirit. Choosing her would not just be a nod to history — it could be the beginning of a renewed political journey.