HARIPUR, July 31: At least 64 women and nine members of minority communities returned unopposed to different union councils in the district in the first phase of the local body elections scheduled to be held on Aug 18.

Earlier, 1,762 candidates had filed nomination papers for 45 union councils of Haripur district. After scrutiny and withdrawal, 132 panels for nazims and naib nazims and 1,274 candidates for councillors’ seats have been left in the run for 540 seats.

As per statistics collected from the assistant election commissioner’s office, 43 women contesting on seats of peasant and workers and 21 for women (general) councillors have returned unopposed. Nine councillors have returned unopposed to seats reserved for minorities.