Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s voters are extremely charged as election approaches, but the upcoming polls might have a new decisive factor.

The province is traditionally known to be a stronghold for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf which has formed the provincial government two consecutive times.

Even though the party’s fortunes look bleak overall compared to the previous elections, PTI’s voters in KP are charged and the party still seems to be comfortably in the lead across the province.

However, the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam, Pakistan Peoples Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and Awami National Party have all found pockets where they expect to get significant support.

The Hazara belt of the province has shown a bend towards the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz. However, that tendency will be compounded by the fact that Nawaz Sharif is contesting personally from NA-15.

While the youth factor is touted across Pakistan as possibly the most decisive in determining which way elections go, the role of KP’s women might be more important in this election than ever before.

With the exception of ANP, which does not have a women wing, all parties are extremely active in motivating their female voters to head to the polls in the elections.

KP’s women have often kept away from voting due to terrorism and other concers, but could make a difference if they indeed come out to vote in large numbers.