American woman claims online marriage with Karachi teen
'Betrayed bride' camps outside Karachi lover’s home: Rrefuses to leave Pakistan: Demands recognition of marriage: Pakistani boy denies
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A bizarre love story has unfolded in Karachi, where a mother of two from the United States, identified as Onijah Andrew Robinson, spent an entire night outside her lover’s home in protest after he refused to acknowledge their alleged marriage, 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Thursday.
The 19-year-old Karachi man, Ahmad Memon, allegedly met Onijah on social media and promised to marry her. Believing in his commitment, she left her husband, abandoned her children, and travelled to Pakistan on October 11 to be with him.
However, Ahmed’s family strongly opposed the marriage, leaving the American woman stranded in Karachi for months as her return ticket had already expired.
"We are already married," claims Onijah
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Onijah Andrew Robinson made a shocking revelation, claiming that she and Ahmad Memon had already married online in Utah, USA.
"Although we are already married, we don’t have any children yet," she stated, insisting that her only desire was to make a secure home with Ahmad.
She dismissed allegations that she was after money, saying: "Money is nothing; I have money, and everyone here has money. Money holds no value in this matter."
Ongoing Drama and Public Spectacle
After being denied recognition by Ahmad Memon’s family, Onijah refused to leave his residence and staged a sit-in outside his apartment at Ali Arcade, Karachi.
Despite cold weather and repeated police intervention, she spent the entire night in the parking area, determined to stay until her demands were met.
Legal Implications and Authorities' Response
The case has drawn widespread attention on social media and legal scrutiny, with authorities looking into the validity of her alleged online marriage.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Memon has remained silent on the claims, with his family refusing to accept the union.
As of now, Onijah refuses to leave Karachi, turning this failed romance into a highly publicised international drama.
Woman stages protest after rejection
Desperate to reunite with Ahmed, Oneja reached his apartment at Ali Arcade in Karachi and refused to leave, spending the night in the parking lot on a chair despite the cold weather.
The building administration and Karachi police were forced to intervene, assigning two female officers for her security. The police even offered her a room for shelter, but she refused.
To control the situation, law enforcement officials sealed the apartment’s central gate, allowing only residents to enter.
Another 'lover' appears to marry her
While Ahmad refused to marry Oneja, a 50-year-old Karachi resident named Abdul Rahim has offered to marry her instead. He arrived at Ali Arcade, saying, "If Oneja agrees, I am ready to marry her. I have even informed my wife about it."
A troubled stay in Karachi
After being abandoned by her lover, Oneja spent months struggling to survive in Karachi. A local NGO eventually helped her with financial aid and arranged a return ticket.
However, she refused to take a flight and leave Pakistan yesterday and was even admitted to an emergency clinic at the airport due to cold and flu symptoms.
US Consulate's intervention
As the situation escalated, officials from the US Consulate arrived at Karachi airport to discuss the matter with immigration authorities.
According to reports, Oneja had been offloaded from a Qatar Airways flight (QR 611) yesterday after causing a disturbance at the international satellite area and misbehaving with airline staff. She refused to board the flight back to the US, insisting she would stay in Pakistan.
The US Consulate clarified that they could not force her to leave, as doing so would be illegal and could lead to legal action against the American government.
Oneja returns to Ahmed’s home
After leaving Karachi Airport in a white car, Oneja returned to her lover’s residence, where she remains stationed outside the apartment building, demanding Ahmed fulfil his promise.
According to the media reports, Ahmed lured Oneja into marriage through social media, leading her to divorce her husband and abandon her family, only to back out of the commitment once she arrived in Karachi.
Reporters: Salman Saleem and Usama Malik