The upcoming general elections in Pakistan will be the first major test for the current Election Commission (ECP) and the nation. With the dissolution of the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the countdown for the election of new assemblies has begun. The ECP recently held the second phase of local government elections in Sindh on January 15th, which included the highly sensitive Karachi and Hyderabad divisions. Despite initial demands for postponement, the election was largely peaceful and orderly. However, the compilation and consolidation of results by the presiding and returning officers attracted loud protests from some political parties. The controversy over the Karachi LG poll has erupted close to the upcoming general elections and if not handled properly, may adversely affect the credibility of the current ECP. Despite past issues of rigging in elections, the ECP has made some solid efforts to repair its credibility in recent years, with some notable achievements such as successfully conducting by-elections and LG polls in various provinces, and providing a well-researched fact-finding report in a funding case. The conduct of the next two sets of general elections will be a huge challenge for the ECP, with unprecedented levels of political polarization and strong criticism from some political parties. The ECP must ensure meticulous regulation of political finances and guard against undue political influence during the election process.