KARACHI: An American woman, Onijah Andrew Robinson, who traveled to Pakistan in pursuit of love, has found herself stranded after the Karachi-based youth she came for abandoned her.
Now, refusing to leave the country, she has made an unusual demand—$3,000 per week—and insists she wants to become a Pakistani citizen.
The 33-year-old woman arrived in Karachi after falling in love with a 19-year-old, Nidal Ahmed Memon. However, under family pressure, the young man refused to marry her, leaving the American woman stranded at Karachi Airport for the past seven days.
Unable to leave Pakistan due to the expiration of her tourist visa, she reached Nidal’s residence in Garden, only to find that his family had locked their house and disappeared.
With no place to go, Onijah staged a sit-in outside the house, refusing to leave. She took shelter in the building’s parking area, prompting the administration to lock the flat’s doors.
Residents voiced concerns over their security as crowds began gathering outside the building to see the American woman.
Speaking to Geo News about her situation, Robinson said, “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 added, “If y’all dropping no bread by next week, I think I should leave.”
To resolve the matter, SDPO Clifton Faiza Sodhar met with her and later transferred her to a women’s police station. Police said she needed security, and her mental state appeared unstable.
However, upon her insistence, she was later sent back to the Garden area.
According to police, Robinson claimed she would leave for her home country whenever she wanted. However, no welfare organization has offered her shelter.
Meanwhile, police sources revealed that Nidal had been taken into custody by intelligence agencies four days ago, while his family had already vacated their residence.
Earlier reports suggested that Robinson had left Karachi Airport in a taxi to an unknown location.
Sources stated that airport authorities had planned to hand her over to the US Consulate. However, she took a taxi and told the police she was heading to her “husband.”
A two-member team from the US Consulate met Robinson at Karachi Airport and discussed the situation with airport officials. US authorities stated that while they preferred to convince her to return, they could not force her.
Police reported that Robinson declined assistance from the consulate and refused any external help.
On the morning of her scheduled departure, the American woman refused to board a Gulf airline flight to the US via Doha. She created a scene at the airport, first refusing immigration procedures and later refusing to board flight QR 611.
Airport sources revealed that the heartbroken woman continuously made excuses to avoid leaving Pakistan.
Robinson fell in love with Nidal Memon from Karachi’s Garden area through social media. She arrived in Pakistan on October 11 to be with him.
Initially, Nidal was willing to marry her, but his family strongly opposed the union.
After months of struggle in Karachi, her return ticket expired, and her visa also ran out. She was handed over to airport police by the Airport Security Force (ASF).
A local NGO had purchased her return ticket and provided financial assistance.
Due to the cold weather and illness, she was even admitted to the emergency clinic at the airport before her departure troubles began.
