'From Punjab to parliament' - Humza to lead SNP.

LONDON -- In an emotional acceptance speech, where he paid tribute to his Pakistani grandparents for migrating to Scotland from Mian Channu over 60 years ago, Humza Yousaf made history on Monday as he became the first ethnic minority and Muslim to win the fiercely contested leadership contest of the Scottish National Party.

He is now expected to be sworn in as Scotland's First Minister, the country's first Muslim or Asian head of government, a milestone he said sends 'a clear message, that your colour of skin, your faith, is not a barrier to leading the country we all call home'.

'As immigrants to this country, who knew barely a word of English, they could not have imagined their grandson would one day be on the cusp of being the next First Minister of Scotland,' 37-year-old Yousaf said shortly after it was announced that he had triumphed over his party colleagues Kate Forbes and Ash Regan.

He painted a vivid picture of the lives of his late grandparents, when they first arrived in the United Kingdom. 'As Muhammad Yousaf worked in the Singer Sewing Machine Factory in Clydebank, and as Rehmat Ali Bhutta stamped tickets on the Glasgow Corporation Buses, they couldn't have imagined, in their wildest dreams, that two generations later their grandson would one day be Scotland's First Minister.'

Scottish-Pakistani politician set to become first Muslim leader to head a UK territory

He added: 'From Punjab to our parliament, this is a journey over generations that reminds us that we should celebrate migrants who contribute so much to our country.'

Mr Yousaf replaced former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after she stepped down from the post last month, saying she needed to take a step back.

On his victory, Ms Sturgeon congratulated him and said: 'I wish him every success. He will be an outstanding leader and First Minister and I could not be prouder to have him succeed me.'

Reactions

People from ethnic minority backgrounds celebrated Mr Yousaf's success as a historic and landmark moment.

'King Charles III will now be inviting a Hindu prime minister of the United Kingdom and a Muslim First Minister of Scotland to his Coronation this spring, sending a powerful message to the world about how much public life in Britain has changed, to an extent unparalleled in comparable democracies,' wrote Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, in an op-ed.

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