Men banned women from voting in the village of Mohripur sometime around 1947, and they have obeyed ever since — until this year, when changes to the country’s election laws and women’s attitudes could shift the dynamic.

At least, that is the hope of many women meeting beneath a Jambolan tree in the village some 60 kilometres from Multan, its shade protecting them from the blazing sun.

"They perhaps think that women are stupid... or there is an issue of honour for them. I don’t know where their honour goes to sleep while they lie down at home... as their women work in the fields." —31-year-old Nazia Tabbasum

Nearly 20 million new voters have been registered, including 9.13 million women. Could women be the swing vote?

Read here how women who have never been allowed vote are gearing up for the elections.