American woman who travelled to Pakistan for love falls ill

KARACHI: An American woman, Onija Andrew Robbins, who made headlines after travelling to Pakistan for love, has fallen ill.

According to police, hotel and guesthouse owners refused to provide her with accommodation, after which she was handed over to a welfare organisation.

The US woman was taken to a social welfare office on Sharea Faisal.

The head of the welfare organisation said that Robbins had been at Tipu Sultan police station and that her health deteriorated due to a lack of rest.

He added that arrangements had been made for her stay, saying: "She is like my sister and can stay here for as long as she wants." Female volunteers from the organisation will remain with her.

This comes after Robbins left the parking area of a residential building in Karachi’s Garden area to rest, after complaining of exhaustion from sitting for hours.

The American lady, reportedly a mother of two, had fallen in love with 19-year-old Nidal Ahmed Memon, a resident of the Garden area, after interacting with him on social media.

She arrived in Karachi on October 11, 2024, intending to marry him. However, Memon’s family refused the marriage.

For months, Robbins remained stranded in Karachi. The Airport Security Force (ASF) handed her over to the airport police after her visit visa expired.

Later, an NGO provided her with a return ticket to the United States and financial assistance, but she refused to leave. Instead, she went to Memon’s residence and camped in the apartment's parking area.

The US woman has demanded Pakistani citizenship and a weekly stipend of $3,000 from the local authorities.