MALE, September 8 (HNS) – Elections Commission today granted the license to create former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM). In a statement, the commission said the license was granted as the required 50 out of the 703 signatures submitted along with the application were found to be authentic. Under Article six of the regulation on political parties, PPM should get 3,000 signatures and apply to register the party within nine months, the commission added. The commission stressed that the party is also required to hold a meeting with a minimum number of 300 attendees in order to take decisions on the party’s charter and manifesto. The commission today handed over the license to Gayoom’s son, Farish Maumoon, who is dealing with the registration process.