Edinburgh: The 37-year-old Humza Yousaf, who is hailed as the first Muslim leader in the UK political realm for Scotland, has renewed his vow to fight for Scotland's independence.
Yousaf, who was born into a Pakistani migrant family in Glasgow, has been named the new leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) after the end of the long tenure of his close ally Nicola Sturgeon.
The leader claimed that the experience he has gained as an ethnic minority would enable him to better serve towards the protection of the rights of all minorities.
Despite facing opposition from the UK government for a new referendum and a setback from the Supreme Court, Yousaf promised in his victory speech on Monday to achieve independence for Scotland in this generation.
As Scotland's first minister, he pledged to establish his own identity while not shying away from Sturgeon's controversial record. He also expressed his intention to seek advice from his experienced predecessor, keeping her on "speed dial".
Critics have portrayed Yousaf as a political lightweight who will remain beholden to Sturgeon's camp, fueled in part by recent developments.
Yousaf's father, originally from Pakistan, achieved success as an accountant in Glasgow, while his mother hails from a South Asian family in Kenya.
He attended a prestigious private school in Glasgow, where he was two years behind Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. Yousaf later studied politics at Glasgow University and worked in a call centre before serving as an aide to Alex Salmond, the former SNP leader and first minister.
Yousaf joined the Scottish cabinet in 2012 and held various roles, including justice, transport, and most recently health. In 2010, he married Gail Lythgoe, a former SNP worker, but they divorced seven years later.