U.S. Government Moves to Revoke Citizenship of Pakistani National for Concealing Crimes

Washington, April 25: The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil complaint to revoke the citizenship of a man born in Pakistan. This individual was convicted of sexually exploiting a minor and enticing her to engage in illicit activities. The department alleges that he obtained U.S. citizenship by concealing his crimes and providing false testimony.

The case involves Hasan Sherzil Khan, who was granted U.S. citizenship in May 2013. Prosecutors claim he had been involved in criminal activities for several years prior to receiving his citizenship. The department argues that his citizenship was obtained unlawfully and should be revoked under federal law.

Documents submitted to the court reveal that Hasan Sherzil Khan met the victim online in 2007 when she was just 11 years old. Over the years, he pressured her through internet chats and video calls, soliciting explicit images and coercing her into sexual activities.

Prosecutors state that in April 2012, Hasan traveled from the U.S. to England, where the victim resided. There, he engaged in sexual relations with her, despite her being only 15 years old at the time, while he was 24.

During a subsequent hearing, Hasan Sherzil Khan admitted his guilt, stating, “I knew my behavior was not only illegal but also morally wrong.”

The Justice Department reported that Hasan continued to exploit the victim online until at least 2013. Despite the victim’s rejections, he repeatedly contacted her. Nevertheless, he applied for U.S. citizenship in August 2012, claiming in his application and during an interview that he had never committed any crime for which he was arrested. Prosecutors assert that this claim was entirely false.

The complaint argues that the defendant lacked the moral character required for citizenship. He committed acts deemed morally reprehensible and lied under oath during the citizenship process. Prosecutors also allege that he deliberately provided false information and concealed essential facts to obtain citizenship. Had he disclosed these facts, he would have been deemed ineligible for citizenship.

The defendant was arrested in 2015 after the victim reported the abuse. In January 2016, he confessed to the crime of coercing and enticing a minor. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison and remains incarcerated.