KARACHI: An American woman, who remained in the public eye for months since traveling to Karachi last year in pursuit of a Pakistani man, finally left Pakistan by boarding a flight to New York on Friday, police said, ending her more than three-month stay in the South Asian country.
Onijah Andrew Robinson, 33, had arrived in Karachi in October last year to meet 19-year-old Nidal Ahmed Memon, who she had befriended online, but Memon later abandoned her saying his family was not agreeing to their marriage. Memon’s whereabouts remained unknown during Robinson’s stay in his country.
Robinson’s story came to light after local activist 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 finally left Pakistan on Friday night following her discharge from a government-run medical facility in Karachi, according to Karachi South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Asad Raza.
“The American woman, Onijah Andrew Robinson, was discharged from the hospital today,” DIG Raza told Arab News. “She has left Pakistan for her home in the US“
Robinson was admitted to the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center on Feb. 1 and was discharged from there on Feb. 7, according to the hospital report. Doctors at the hospital had diagnosed the US woman as having bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), in which a person experiences periods of extreme mood changes.
The American woman, who remained in media glare and previously refused to leave Pakistan on multiple occasions, had not filed a formal complaint against Memon, according to Karachi authorities.
A spokesperson for the US consulate in Karachi said late last month the mission was aware of the situation, but could not comment due to privacy laws. Shafqat Ali Khan, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign office, said it was a matter for local authorities in the Sindh province to deal with.
During her months-long stay in Pakistan, a number of Pakistani men had also 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,” Muhammad Ismail, one such contender, told reporters in Karachi last month.
“She has been betrayed and cheated. A promise has been broken, but we welcome the guest.”
American woman, abandoned by online paramour, leaves Pakistan for New York after months
https://arab.news/vjkx8
American woman, abandoned by online paramour, leaves Pakistan for New York after months
- Onijah Andrew Robinson, 33, had arrived in Karachi in October last year to meet 19-year-old Nidal Ahmed Memon
- Memon abandoned her saying his family was not agreeing to their marriage, his whereabouts remained unknown
Pakistan says Iraq expressed ‘keen interest’ in JF-17 jets at air chiefs meeting
- Pakistan’s defense sector has drawn growing interest and investment since a four-day standoff with India in May last year
- Many countries have since increased defense engagement, while multiple others have proposed learning from Pakistan’s expertise
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Saturday that Iraq had shown “keen interest” in its JF-17 Thunder and Super Mushshak aircraft at a meeting between chiefs of the two air forces.
Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu called on Lt. Gen. Staff Pilot Mohanad Ghalib Mohammed Radi Al-Asadi, commander of the Iraqi Air Force, during his official visit to Iraq.
The Pakistani air chief was accorded a guard of honor at the Iraqi Air Force headquarters, symbolizing the strong bond of mutual respect, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
“Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral military cooperation, with emphasis on joint training, capacity-building and improving operational cooperation,” the ISPR said.
“The Iraqi Air Chief praised PAF’s professionalism and technological advancement, expressed interest in benefiting from PAF’s world-class training and expressed keen interest in JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, Super Mushshak trainer aircraft.”
Pakistan’s defense sector has drawn growing interest and investment, particularly since a four-day India-Pakistan military standoff in May last year. Islamabad claimed victory in the standoff, saying it had shot down six Indian aircraft, including French-made Rafale jets. India acknowledged losses but did not specify a number.
Many countries have since stepped up defense engagement with Pakistan, while delegations from multiple other nations have proposed learning from Pakistan Air Force’s multi-domain air warfare capabilities that successfully demonstrated how advanced Chinese military technology performs against Western hardware.
Pakistan markets the Chinese co-developed JF-17 as a lower-cost multi-role fighter and has positioned itself as a supplier able to offer aircraft, training and maintenance outside Western supply chains.
Islamabad is in the final phases of striking a $1.5-billion deal to supply weapons and jets to Sudan in a major boost for Sudan’s army that has been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Reuters reported this week, citing a former top air force official and three sources.
The South Asian country reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army, Reuters report last month, citing Pakistani officials. The deal, one of Pakistan’s largest-ever weapons sales, included the sale of 16 JF-17 fighter jets and 12 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft for basic pilot training.
