An American woman, Onijah Andrew Robinson, who traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, to pursue love, has found herself stranded after being abandoned by the 19-year-old she came to marry.
The 33-year-old arrived in Karachi after falling in love with Nidal Ahmed Memon through social media. However, under family pressure, Nidal refused to marry her, leaving Robinson without a place to stay. For the past seven days, she has remained at Karachi Airport, as her tourist visa has expired, preventing her from leaving the country.
Desperate for a resolution, Robinson later went to Nidal’s residence in Garden, only to find the house locked and the family missing. With nowhere to go, she staged a sit-in outside the building, refusing to leave and taking shelter in the parking area. Concerned residents later had the building’s entrance locked to prevent disturbances, as crowds began gathering to see the American woman.
In an interview with Geo News, Robinson made an unusual demand, saying:
“You got to give me $3,000 a week. I’m becoming a citizen of Pakistan, that’s all I got to say for tonight.”
When asked why she wasn’t leaving, she responded:
“If y’all dropping no bread by next week, I think I should leave.”
Authorities and US Consulate Intervention
To address the situation, SDPO Clifton Faiza Sodhar met with Robinson and later transferred her to a women’s police station, citing concerns over her security and mental state. However, upon her insistence, she was later sent back to Garden.
Robinson has refused assistance from both Pakistani authorities and the US Consulate, insisting she will leave on her own terms. Meanwhile, police sources revealed that Nidal was taken into custody by intelligence agencies four days ago, while his family had already vacated their residence.
Refusal to Leave Pakistan
Earlier, airport authorities had planned to hand her over to the US Consulate, but she instead took a taxi, claiming she was going to meet her “husband.” A two-member US Consulate team met with her at Karachi Airport and discussed the matter with officials, expressing their preference for her return to the US. However, they stated that they could not force her to leave.
Robinson later refused to board a Gulf airline flight bound for the US via Doha, creating a scene at the airport. She declined to undergo immigration procedures and made excuses to avoid departing Pakistan.
Months of Struggle in Karachi
Robinson had originally arrived in Pakistan on October 11, hoping to marry Nidal. Initially, he was willing, but due to strong opposition from his family, he abandoned the relationship.
After months in Karachi, her return ticket expired, and her visa also ran out. She was eventually handed over to airport police by the Airport Security Force (ASF).
A local NGO had previously provided financial assistance and purchased a return ticket for her. However, she continued to refuse to leave. During this time, cold weather and illness led to her being admitted to the airport’s emergency clinic before her departure ordeal began.
The authorities remain uncertain about how to resolve the situation, as Robinson insists on staying in Pakistan despite having no means of support.