Pakistan-origin Hamza Yousaf takes Scottish parliamentary oath in Urdu

The members of the Scottish Parliament have been sworn in for the fifth session of the Scottish Parliament.  All 129 members took either an oath or an affirmation in the well of the Holyrood chamber.

Humza Yousaf was the final member to be sworn in today. However, he took the oath in Urdu which reflects his Pakistan heritage. He was dressed in a sherwani and a kilt which also shows the cultures of both countries.

With the newly sworn in MSP for Glasgow Southside @NicolaSturgeon #sp16 pic.twitter.com/Vnl9QA64zy

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) May 12, 2016

Yousaf is a member of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and is the elected from Glasgow. He was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2011 at the age of 25 and became the youngest member to be ever elected to the Scottish parliament at that time. Yousaf was born in Glasgow in 1985 to immigrant parents. His father hailed from Pakistan and his mother was Kenyan. He studied Politics at the University of Glasgow and was involved in community work before embarking on a political career.

WorthWatching.@HumzaYousaf, wearing a kilt
takes oath in #Urdu
In #Scottish Parliament
swears allegiance to #Queen.pic.twitter.com/0dloxSkd9R

— Adil Najam عادل نجم (@AdilNajam) May 13, 2016

In 2012 he became a junior minister in the cabinet of Alex Salmond and worked under Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs. Nicola Sturgeon retained him when she became the leader but changed the name of the position to the Minister for Europe and International Development

The oath was overseen by outgoing Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was first to be sworn in and underlined her party’s “loyalty to the people of Scotland” and the “sovereignty of the people” before taking the affirmation.

Several MSPs made their oaths in other languages as well as English, including Gaelic, Doric and Scots.