US consulate persuades stranded American woman to return home

Express Tribune

07-02-2025

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The US consulate has successfully persuaded the American woman to return home after she was hospitalised in Karachi.
The woman, identified as Onija Andrew Robbins, had arrived in Karachi following a social media-driven romance with a Pakistani youth.
According to sources, consulate officials met with Robbins at the Jinnah Hospital's special ward.
After a detailed briefing from the medical board, they were able to convince her to return to the US, Express News reported.
The consulate has arranged for her return ticket, with plans for her to leave the hospital before February 11.
Hospital staff had previously expressed concern about Robbins' health. When she was admitted, her haemoglobin levels were critically low, at just 4, but after receiving three blood transfusions, her condition improved significantly, with her haemoglobin rising to 9.
Additionally, her bipolar disorder was being monitored and managed with medication.
Jahangir Durani, spokesperson of Jinnah Hospital, informed the consulate team that Robbins' condition had shown improvement in both physical and psychological aspects, with no major complications observed.
The spokesperson for the hospital confirmed that Robbins would be discharged once she received medical clearance from the board and was fit to travel.
Earlier today, officials from the US diplomatic mission in the metropolis
visited
the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) to get updates on the health of an American woman receiving treatment for mental and physical issues.
Robbins, mother of two, has been given a 15-day extension after her three months visit visa expired, while Nidal Ahmed Memon, for whom she has fallen, and his family have been hiding since the American woman caught the media's attention in Karachi.
Timeline of American woman Onijah's journey in Pakistan
Onijah Andrew Robinson, a 33-year-old American woman, has
become
the centre of attention in Pakistan after traveling to Karachi in October 2024 to meet her 18-year-old online lover, Nidal Ahmed Memon.
The story took a dramatic turn when it was revealed that Robinson had been using a filter to portray herself as a white blonde woman during her online conversations with Memon.
Despite this deception, the two reportedly wed in an online Nikah, an Islamic marriage ceremony.
Upon arriving in Pakistan, Robinson was met with rejection from Memon's mother, who disapproved of the relationship, largely due to her age and the fact that she had catfished her son.
However, Memon seemed willing to continue, possibly motivated by the prospect of obtaining a US green card. His mother, however, fled their home with him, leaving Robinson stranded.
Undeterred, Robinson set up camp outside Memon's apartment complex, quickly attracting the attention of the media and local residents. Her behavior, which included public outbursts and demands for money, rapidly turned her into a viral sensation. Social media erupted with memes and videos, with many Pakistanis both amused and bewildered by the unfolding drama.
A local humanitarian, Mr. Chippa, tried to help Robinson, but she repeatedly rebuffed his efforts. Her antics, including a bizarre McDonald's order and a failed attempt to check her into a psychiatric facility, further fueled the spectacle.