American Woman Stranded in Pakistan After Failed Romance With Karachi Teenager
An American woman, 33-year-old Onijah Andrew Robinson, found herself stranded in Pakistan after traveling to Karachi to marry a teenager she had fallen in love with online. The romance took a tragic turn, leaving Robinson in a precarious situation.
Robinson, a New York resident, arrived in Karachi on October 11, 2024, on a 30-day tourist visa after developing a relationship with 19-year-old Nidal Ahmed Memon, a resident of Garden West, Karachi. The two had connected on social media, and Robinson traveled to Pakistan with the intention of marrying Memon.
However, the relationship fell apart when Memon, under family pressure, backed out of the marriage. This left Robinson stranded in a foreign country with no immediate means to return home. Compounding her difficulties, Robinson’s visa expired, rendering her unable to leave Pakistan legally.
Struggles at the Airport
For seven days, Robinson took refuge at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. Battling a cold and flu, she eventually required medical attention from the airport’s emergency clinic. Without a valid return ticket, she was denied entry into the airport premises by the Airport Security Force (ASF).
Local police intervened and sought help from the US Consulate, but consulate officials reportedly did not respond to her plight. It was during a routine visit to the airport that Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori learned about her situation and stepped in to assist.
Resolution and Return
Governor Tessori facilitated the issuance of a new visa and coordinated with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to secure Robinson’s exit permit. He also arranged for her return ticket to the United States, ensuring that she could leave Pakistan.
Robinson’s case has drawn attention to a growing trend of international romances sparked through social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat. In recent years, several foreign women have traveled to Pakistan to meet and marry their online partners.
