Lahore (Special Correspondent) – Following the approval of her nomination papers by the Election Commission, Tahira Habib Jalib held a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, appealing to journalists and politicians across Pakistan to support her candidacy for the NA-129 by-election.

Tahira, who works as a laborer and taxi driver, said she has applied for a PPP ticket and, encouraged by Faisal Mir’s strong support, has decided to contest against billionaire politicians from the PPP’s platform. “My father Habib Jalib and Waris Mir always believed that the assemblies should also represent the poor and working-class people,” she stated.

Tahira noted that four members of the next generation of her father’s close comrades stood beside her at the press conference — Barrister Maqsooma Bukhari, daughter of Farukhanda Bukhari; Dr. Ayesha Shaukat, daughter of Rana Shaukat; Syed Sabt Hassan, son of Zawar Comrade; and Faisal Mir, son of Waris Mir.

“I, too, am a worker like Habib Jalib, earning my living through labor to this day,” she said. “If influential journalists remain silent, it will mean they are indirectly supporting the political elite.”

Tahira added that her aim in winning the NA-129 seat is to give ordinary people the confidence that a taxi driver’s dignity and worth are equal to that of any wealthy industrialist. She appealed to influential journalists and politicians nationwide to openly support her through her Twitter account.

Faisal Mir, speaking at the occasion, said this is a test for prominent journalists — whether they will support Tahira Jalib or remain silent out of expediency. “Silence from journalists and politicians will mean siding with billionaire politicians,” Mir said, adding that Lahore’s old and ideological families will actively participate in Tahira Jalib’s election campaign.