Home ministry said on twitter Wednesday that Umar would serve as the chair of the National Drug Control Council until a vice president is appointed. Drugs Act mandates the vice president to head the council, which oversees policy decisions on drug control. The vice president’s post became vacant after then vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor was arrested on October 24 upon return from an official visit to China and taken to the police detention centre in the island of Dhoonidhoo in Kaafu atoll. He is accused of high treason; a charge he strongly denies. Adheeb is the main suspect in an explosion that took place aboard the presidential speedboat carrying the president, now confirmed as an attempt to kill the president. President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim were travelling to Male from the airport on September 28 when the explosion took place. They had returned home that morning after concluding their visit to Saudi Arabia to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage. The president was unhurt, but the first lady suffered a spinal fracture. Meanwhile, the parliament had in August approved a proposal to reconstitute the drug control council. Instead of six ministers, the council now comprises of state ministers and deputy ministers assigned by the president.