Woman flies to Pakistan for love, ends up in psychiatric care

WHAT would you do for love? For Onijah Andrew Robinson, the answer was clear: pack her bags, leave New York and fly halfway across the world to Pakistan in pursuit of her online boyfriend.

But instead of a fairy tale ending, her journey spiraled into chaos, complete with viral TikToks, press conferences and bizarre demands.

This 33-year-old New Yorker’s story feels like a plot straight out of a drama series—except it’s real and the whole internet is watching.

A Journey to Karachi

In October 2024, Robinson travelled to Karachi, Pakistan, to marry her 19-year-old boyfriend, Nidal Ahmed Memon. The two had met online and Robinson had reportedly used filters during their video chats, presenting herself as a blonde, white woman.

Things took a turn when Memon’s family discovered the truth. The significant age gap and filtered appearances were unacceptable to them, leading to the cancellation of the wedding.

Onijah Andrew Robinson - Photo source: Free stock images

To complicate matters further, Memon himself disappeared, leaving Robinson stranded in Karachi with no money and an expired visa.

A Series of Unusual Demands

Instead of returning to the United States, Robinson took a different approach. She began holding press conferences, making headlines for her extraordinary claims and demands:

• $100,000 to 'reconstruct' Pakistan
• Weekly payments of $5,000 in US dollars
• Land and a Pakistani passport

"My plan is to rebuild this country, fix the streets and bring food to the people,” she told local media, leaving reporters—and the internet—stunned.

For weeks, she remained outside Memon’s family home, giving interviews and drawing attention from locals and social media users alike.

A local non-governmental organisation provided Robinson with shelter and attempted to facilitate her return to the US. However, she initially resisted, expressing a desire to stay in Pakistan.

A man claiming to be her son, Jeremiah Andrew Robinson, later revealed that his mother suffers from bipolar disorder, offering insight into her unpredictable behaviour. Robinson was reportedly admitted to the psychiatric department at Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for evaluation.

After nearly four months in Pakistan, she finally departed for New York City via Dubai on Feb 7. With the assistance of government officials and social workers, she was issued an exit permit and boarded her flight home.

Robinson’s saga isn’t just about a failed romance or viral press conferences. It highlights deeper issues—mental health, the risks of online relationships and cultural misunderstandings.

While some may find humour in the absurdity of her demands, her story is a reminder that behind the viral moments are real people facing real challenges.

So, the next time you match with someone from halfway across the world, maybe think twice—and definitely triple-check those filters.