Ditched and betrayed, love-sick US woman refuses to go back home

Onija Andrew Robbins taken into protective custody by police as she insist on meeting her love

KARACHI:

"Love is blind" is a phrase spoken by Jessica, a character in William Shakespeare's play 'The Merchant of Venice.' And since then it has been repeated countless of times in romantic affairs.

This phrase perfectly sums up the unrequited love of 33-year-old married American woman Onija Andrew Robbins, who fell for a Pakistani teenager online, left her two children in the States, and flew into Karachi to marry her love - only to be ditched and betrayed by him.

"Call my husband Nidal," Robbins kept saying throughout Wednesday night as she sat in a chair in the parking lot of Ali Arcade apartment building in the Osmanabad area of Karachi. Robbins arrived in Karachi three months ago to be with 19-year-old Nidal Ahmed Memon, a resident of Garden West, claiming that they had already tied the nuptial knot online.

Robbins was offered food by the building management staff and police, but she wouldn't eat anything. "Robbins stared blankly as she sat in the chair appearing unwell with swollen feet and an inhaler in hand," local resident Rafiq Ahmed, who was at a teashop opposite the building, told The Express Tribune. "Call my husband, Nidal," Robbins would repeat after a while.

Police tried to console her, assuring her that efforts were being made to find him. Robbins, who met Nidal while he was working at a call centre in Karachi, stated that their relationship blossomed through phone conversations. She had come to Karachi with the intention of "consummating their marriage" and settle with Nidal in Pakistan. Some residents of Ali Arcade claimed that the woman had been staying at Nidal's apartment for the past three months, but her presence was kept secret from the neighbours.

As news flashed on TV screens, curious onlookers flocked to the building, causing distress to the residents. Police arrived at the scene, asking locals to maintain their distance. Despite repeated requests, Robbins refused to leave the premises, asking for money from the building management and police to leave the place.

According to witnesses, Nidal had fled the apartment on his motorcycle earlier in the day, accidentally hitting another bike in his hurry. Soon after, his family also locked the flat and left, leaving Robbins alone and desperate.

On the orders of the provincial police chief, senior police officer Faiza Soder arrived at the scene with a heavy police contingent. After an hour of negotiations, they decided that Robbins needed to be shifted to a safer location due to security concerns. Just as police were monitoring Robbins, she unexpectedly booked an online taxi and left for an undisclosed location. The police attempted to track her down, but she managed to leave the jurisdiction of the concerned police station.

Before her sudden disappearance, Robbins released a video message, claiming that she had married Nidal online via a website called International Utah. She said that money was not a factor in their relationship. "I have money, and everyone here has money. My only wish is to meet Nidal," she said while expressing her desire to settle in Karachi. However, Robbins was later traced at a guesthouse in Nursery on Sharae Faisal. However, the administration refused to rent her a room. In the meantime, police arrived at the guesthouse, took the American woman into protective custody, and transferred her to a hotel in Saddar.

A day earlier, authorities decided to send her to the US after her three-month visit visa expired. An Airport Security Force (ASF) contingent escorted her to the Karachi airport where she refused to undergo the necessary immigration procedures and later declined to board her flight in the international departure lounge.

Due to security regulations, officials could not forcibly place her on the flight. Her refusal to leave caused a 36-minute delay for Qatar Airways Flight QR 611, but eventually, the aircraft departed without her. Later, a two-member team from the US Consulate arrived at the airport to discuss the situation. They said that Robbins could not be forced onto a flight against her will, as this could lead to legal complications.

With Robbins now ditched, betrayed, and abandoned, and Nidal and his family in hiding, the fate of this love story remains uncertain. What began as a tale of intercontinental romance highlights the complexities of love, cultural differences, and unexpected consequences of online relationships.

Meanwhile, the Chhipa Foundation has announced that the foundation's chief, Ramzan Chhipa, along with the US lady, will address a press conference at 10am, at the head office on Friday.