KARACHI: The US Consul General will award certificates of appreciation to 16 Pakistani officials on Feb 18 for their kindness and assistance to American woman Onija Andrew Robinson during her visit to Pakistan.
The officials to be awarded include FIA officials, police and airport medical staff. The recipients include FIA Karachi Director Noman Siddiqui, Deputy Director Immigration Bahawal Dosto, Assistant Director Abdul Jabbar and others.
Onija’s Journey in Pakistan
Onija Robinson, 33 year old American, arrived in Karachi on Oct 11, 2024 to marry a man she met online. But after being rejected due to family pressure, she decided to stay in Pakistan even after her visa expired on Nov 10.
She was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi for her mental condition. Her hands and feet were swollen and she was incoherent. After medical checkup a board cleared her for travel and she was accompanied to the airport by Pakistani police on Feb 7, 2025.
Onija’s return to the US
Robinson was supposed to fly back to the US on Emirates but refused to board. She then flew to Dubai on an on-arrival visa and videos of her walking around the streets went viral. US authorities tipped off UAE authorities and she was taken into protective custody and deported back to the US.
Her son Jeremiah Andrew Robinson said she has mental problem and cognitive challenges. He said she was supposed to go back to the US after 2 weeks of her arrival in Pakistan but she decided to stay.
Onija’s case was an international sensation, people were complimenting Pakistanis on their hospitality and tolerance. Some social media users were commenting how Onija’s treatment defied the stereotype negative image of Pakistan in Western media.
The ceremony by US Consul General is to appreciate the efforts of Pakistani authorities in providing Onija with safety and comfort while she was in the country.
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