WASHINGTON: The US Department of Justice has filed a civil case seeking to revoke the citizenship of a Pakistani-born physician convicted of sexually exploiting a minor and later concealing the offences during his naturalisation process.

The doctor, Hassan Sherjil Khan, allegedly began contacting an 11-year-old girl online in 2007 or 2008 and continued communicating with her for several years, according to a statement issued by the department.

Prosecutors say the doctor coerced the minor into sending sexually explicit images and engaging in live video sexual activity. The conduct continued until around 2013.

The Justice Department further alleges that the accused travelled abroad to engage in sexual acts with the victim when she was 15.

Despite this, he applied for US citizenship in August 2012 without disclosing his involvement in the offences and was granted naturalisation in May 2013.

The victim later disclosed the abuse, after which the doctor was arrested in September 2015.

He was charged with coercion and enticement of a minor, sexual exploitation of a child, sexual exploitation of a child outside the United States, and receipt of child pornography.

In January 2016, he pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor under US federal law and was sentenced to 17 years in prison. He remains incarcerated.

At the time of his arrest, he was working as a physician.

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said citizenship “will not protect sexual predators from the consequences of their horrific acts” and added that the government would revoke citizenship obtained through concealment of serious crimes.

The civil complaint argues that the physician was ineligible for naturalisation because he lacked “good moral character” at the time of citizenship and allegedly made false statements or concealed material facts during the process.

The case has been filed in the Southern District of New York and is being handled by the Justice Department’s immigration litigation unit along with the US Attorney’s Office.

Officials said the allegations in the complaint have not yet been adjudicated in court.

While denaturalisation remains a relatively rare legal remedy in the United States, the Justice Department has in recent years pursued a number of such cases, particularly involving allegations of immigration fraud, concealment of criminal conduct, or national security concerns.

Under initiatives such as “Operation Janus” and later “Operation Second Look,” US authorities have reviewed thousands of naturalisation files for inconsistencies in identity, prior deportation orders, or undisclosed criminal histories. These efforts have resulted in civil proceedings against naturalised citizens from a wide range of countries.

In publicly reported cases, denaturalisation actions have been brought against individuals originating from countries including Pakistan, India, Somalia, and several former Soviet republics, often linked to allegations of fraud in asylum or citizenship applications, or serious post-naturalisation criminal convictions.