American woman’s love story is shattered, stuck in Pakistan

KARACHI: An American woman, Onijah Andrew Robinson, found herself stranded in Karachi after a romantic relationship she had with a local teenager ended abruptly, leaving her in a precarious situation in Pakistan.

Robinson, 33, travelled from New York to Karachi on October 11, 2024, on a 30-day tourist visa. Her journey was inspired by her relationship with 19-year-old Nidal Ahmed Memon, a teenager from Karachi’s Garden West area. The two had met through social media and planned to marry, with Robinson eager to start a new chapter in her life.

However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Memon, under pressure from his family, backed out of the marriage, leaving Robinson stranded in a foreign country with no means to return home. As her visa expired, Robinson was unable to leave the country, and her stay at Karachi’s airport became her only option.

For seven days, Robinson remained at the airport, suffering from a cold and flu, and eventually required medical attention at the airport’s emergency clinic. Due to her expired visa and lack of a valid return ticket, Robinson was not permitted to enter the airport premises by the Airport Security Force (ASF).

Local authorities intervened, and the case was brought to the attention of the U.S. Consulate, but reports indicate that the consulate did not immediately respond to the situation. With her plight worsening, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori stepped in during a visit to the airport, learning of her situation. He facilitated the issuance of a new visa and return ticket for Robinson, enabling her to leave Pakistan.

Robinson was eventually granted an exit permit by Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior, and arrangements were made for her to return to the United States.