KARACHI: An American woman who has been in the media storm after traveling to Karachi in pursuit of a Pakistani man she befriended online who ultimately refused to marry her said this week she doesn’t feel betrayed but wants to stay in Pakistan for now and be paid a weekly allowance.
Onijah Andrew Robinson, 33, arrived in Karachi in October to meet 19-year-old Nidal Ahmed Memon, who later abandoned her saying his family was not agreeing to their marriage. His whereabouts are currently unknown.
Robinson’s story came to light after local activist and YouTuber Zaffar Abbas publicized it on social media, with Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori intervening to extend her expired visa and arrange a flight home.
Robinson, however, refused to board the flight this week, according to Station House Officer Kaleem Khan Moosa. She instead took a taxi to Memon’s apartment building in whose parking area she stayed for nearly 30 hours on Thursday before leaving for a Chhipa charity shelter, where she is expected to remain until her return to the US.
“That’s funny because I keep that private … I can never feel betrayed,” she told Arab News when asked about her relationship with Memon and his disappearance.
“My demand today is to put [advertisement] in a newspaper that you will give us money tomorrow or by the end of this week. We need $50,000.”
It was unclear who she was demanding the money from, the Pakistan government or Memon.
Authorities in Karachi said the woman had not filed a formal complaint against Memon.
“We learned that an American woman is present in the building in connection with a local man,” Senior Superintendent Police Arif Aziz. “The young man has disappeared after leaving his home, but since there is no complaint in this case and it is a personal matter, our responsibility is limited to providing security to the woman only.”
A spokesperson for the US consulate in Karachi said the mission was aware of the situation but could not comment due to privacy laws. The spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign office, Shafqat Ali Khan, said it was a matter for local authorities in Sindh province to deal with.
Meanwhile, a number of Pakistani men have come forward with marriage proposals for Robinson.
“If she wants to settle here, then I’ve bought a new house in Gulshan-e-Maymar [neighborhood]. I will accommodate her there and also give her $5,000,” said Muhammad Ismail.
“She has been betrayed and cheated. A promise has been broken, but we welcome the guest.”
Sharif Sheerani, 62, said he was ready to marry Robinson and move with her to the US if she paid him $50,000.
“My demand is $50,000,” he said. “I will go with her but she won’t agree because she is also broke, what will she give me? She’s asking for money herself.”
