No Time to Sleep

A live performance charting the final 24 hours of a death row prisoner before execution –– LIVESTREAM ENDED

Published 26 Oct, 2018 03:09pm

Sarmad Khoosat speaks

Actor Sarmad Khoosat, who played the role of Prisoner Z in No Time To Sleep, released a video message on Twitter to address the momentous response to his performance and thank viewers for engaging with a difficult subject.

Khoosat added that forming an opinion or taking a position on a subject as complicated as the death penalty is not easy, but the response to his endeavour reinforced his belief in hard work, intention and the power of art.

Watch his video message here:

Here's part two:

Published 19 Oct, 2018 04:11pm

Behind the scenes

Take a look behind the scenes of No Time To Sleep, a groundbreaking 24-hour live performance charting the final day of a death row prisoner.

Starring Sarmad Khoosat as Prisoner Z, the performance went on without breaks for 24 hours and was streamed live across the world and right here on Dawn.com.

View the entire album here.

—JPP
—JPP
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—JPP

Updated 15 Oct, 2018 01:40pm

No Time to Sleep in the press

No Time to Sleep was covered in both national and international press, including by various desks at Dawn. Here are some of the notable publications that picked up the performance. Keep visiting the live blog for more updates in the coming days.

Times of India:

Outlook India: 24-hour Pak play depicts life of death row prisoners

Pakistan Today: Celebrities laud Sarmad Khoosat’s #NoTimeToSleep

The News: No Time To Sleep keeps audiences riveted

The News on Sunday: The final hour

Mangobaaz: The Final Moments Of Sarmad Khoosat’s Powerful Performance Are Making Me Question The Death Penalty

Images: No Time To Sleep is an emotionally charged look at capital punishment

ICON: Dead man streaming

Dawn.com: No Time to Sleep demonstrates the power of silence in performance art

Franceinfo: Une performance artistique pour sensibiliser à la peine de mort

Kuwait Times: #NoTimeToSleep: In the shoes of a dead man walking in Pakistan

MSN Asia: #NoTimeToSleep: In the shoes of a dead man walking in Pakistan

Yahoo News Singapore: #NoTimeToSleep: In the shoes of a dead man walking in Pakistan

Gulf News: #NoTimeToSleep: In the shoes of a dead man walking in Pakistan

Published 11 Oct, 2018 01:54am

Conclusion

Prisoner Z received a temporary stay of execution one hour before he was due to be hanged.

Z was brought back to the general population of the prison. He spent the following weeks educating his fellow inmates.


One month later, another execution warrant was issued. He was brought back to solitary confinement and hanged after three days.

This story is inspired by the real life experience of Zufilqar Ali. Hours before dying, Zulfiqar asked a guard to tell his lawyers that he felt as though he lived another lifetime in that precious month.

Published 10 Oct, 2018 11:05pm

What is No Time to Sleep?

Do you know the terrifying 24 hours a death row prisoner goes through before execution?

No Time to Sleep seeks to portray the same for audiences by charting the final days of Prisoner Z.

The role is played by Sarmad Khoosat and the performance goes on without any breaks.

No Time to Sleep is primarily about the tyranny of time that is both long and short – running slow and running out – while the ropes are tested.

The play is a project of Justice Project Pakistan, in collaboration with Olomopolo Media and Highlight Arts. The concept is by Ryan van Winkle. It will be directed by Kanwal Khoosat and has been produced by Iram Sana.


Prisoner Z's life is roughly based on Zulfiqar Ali Khan, who was JPP’s first client and spent 17 years on death row. In that time, his execution was scheduled and stayed more than 20 times. He was finally executed in June 2015.

Scroll down the live blog for more.

Published 10 Oct, 2018 11:00pm

11:00pm: "The guards are not listening"

UPDATE: Two lawyers from the Justice Project Pakistan have arrived outside the prison with a member of the victim’s family, who says he is willing to testify to forgive Prisoner Z — but the guards are not listening.

Published 10 Oct, 2018 08:00pm

8:00pm: Guard shift

The guard’s four-hour shift has ended. A new guard will arrive to replace him.

Abu Bakar, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP
Abu Bakar, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP

Published 10 Oct, 2018 04:00pm

4:00pm: Guard shift

It is time for the change in the guards' shift.

The guards' shifts change every four hours. Each guard has a different relationship with Prisoner Z and a different level of comfort with him.

Hassan Kamal, one of Prisoner Z's prison guards.—JPP
Hassan Kamal, one of Prisoner Z's prison guards.—JPP

Published 10 Oct, 2018 01:15pm

1:15pm: Zuhr prayers

Prisoner Z offers his zuhr prayers.

Z's prayer mat.–JPP
Z's prayer mat.–JPP

Published 10 Oct, 2018 12:10pm

Noon: "Killing his brother will not bring back my father"

A victim's family can forgive a death row prisoner. Here's one example:

Hanging Iqbal is detrimental for society. He was a boy, and he made a mistake and we are always more than the worst thing we have done.

Read the rest here.

Published 10 Oct, 2018 12:10pm

Noon: Mediation

UPDATE: Justice Project Pakistan are mediating conversations between the victim’s family and Prisoner Z’s family. Negotiations over the sum of blood money required for forgiveness are often arduous.

Published 10 Oct, 2018 12:08pm

Noon: Last meal

Prisoner Z is served his simple meal of tea and biscuits. This is the last time he will be allowed to eat today.

–JPP
–JPP

Published 10 Oct, 2018 11:59am

Noon: Guard shift

A new guard arrives to look over Prisoner Z.

The guards' shifts change every four hours. Each guard has a different relationship with Prisoner Z and a different level of comfort with him.

Sarfraz, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP
Sarfraz, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP

Published 10 Oct, 2018 09:00am

9:00am: Another appeal

Justice Project Pakistan are bringing their appeal for a stay of execution for Prisoner Z to the high court.

You can learn more about JPP and their work here.

Published 10 Oct, 2018 08:00am

08:00am: Guard shift

The guards’ third shift of the day begins. Guards watch over the prisoner all day, right up until the moment he is taken to the gallows. Prisoner Z will never be alone as he waits for his execution.

The guards' shifts change every four hours. Each guard has a different relationship with Prisoner Z and a different level of comfort with him.

Abu Bakar, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP
Abu Bakar, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP

Published 10 Oct, 2018 06:00am

6:00am: Breakfast is served

Prisoner Z’s simple breakfast of tea and biscuits is served after sunrise. Prisoners are denied all other food, in an effort to avoid any illness that may render them "unfit" for execution.

Prisoner Z at breakfast.—JPP
Prisoner Z at breakfast.—JPP

Published 10 Oct, 2018 04:45am

4:45am: Fajr prayers

Prisoner Z rises for the first call to prayer of the day.

Prisoner Z's prayer mat.—JPP
Prisoner Z's prayer mat.—JPP

Published 10 Oct, 2018 04:00am

4:00am: Guard shift

A prison guard arrives to continue the watch over Prisoner Z.

The guards' shifts change every four hours. Each guard has a different relationship with Prisoner Z and a different level of comfort with him.

Hassan Kamal, one of Prisoner Z's prison guards.—JPP
Hassan Kamal, one of Prisoner Z's prison guards.—JPP

Published 09 Oct, 2018 11:59pm

11:59pm: Guard shift

The guard’s four-hour shift has ended. It is time for another guard to come and watch over Prisoner Z.

Sarfraz, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP
Sarfraz, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP

Published 09 Oct, 2018 08:00pm

8:00pm: Guard shift

The guard’s four-hour shift has ended. A new guard will arrive to replace him.

Abu Bakar, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP
Abu Bakar, one of Prisoner Z's guards.—JPP

Published 09 Oct, 2018 06:30pm

6:30pm: Dinner time

Prisoner Z is served dinner — a packet of biscuits and tea. This is all he can eat until his execution as per the jail manual.

Prisoner Z with his meal of tea and biscuits.—JPP
Prisoner Z with his meal of tea and biscuits.—JPP

Published 09 Oct, 2018 05:35pm

5:35pm: Inspection

The assistant superintendent has visited Prisoner Z and has confirmed that prison regulations are being followed.

Executions weigh heavily on those carrying them out too, often leading to alcohol and substance abuse as a coping mechanism.

Published 09 Oct, 2018 04:00pm

4:00pm: Guard shift

It is time for the change in the guards' shift.

The guards' shifts change every four hours. Each guard has a different relationship with Prisoner Z and a different level of comfort with him.

Hassan Kamal, one of Prisoner Z's prison guards.—JPP
Hassan Kamal, one of Prisoner Z's prison guards.—JPP

Published 09 Oct, 2018 03:40pm

3:40pm: Seeking forgiveness

A formal acknowledgement of forgiveness will likely require a payment of blood money.

Some families choose to forgive. The family of the victim of a convicted death row prisoner named Iqbal forgave him and explained their decision.

Published 09 Oct, 2018 03:30pm

3:30pm: Attempts at reconciliation

UPDATE: Justice Project Pakistan have just now managed to find and contact a member of the victim’s family to discuss reconciliation.

The family member has still not confirmed their willingness to participate.

Published 09 Oct, 2018 03:00pm

3:00pm: Ropes successfully tested

The ropes have been successfully tested at the jail by the executioner, using sandbags.

Here, an executioner describes how to tie the knot on a rope.

Published 09 Oct, 2018 02:30pm

2:30pm: The family's desperation

Family members do whatever they can to save the life of a loved one who is on death row. Prisoner Z’s father has vowed to offer nazarana at the Data Darbar shrine if his execution is halted.

Published 09 Oct, 2018 02:15pm

2:15pm: Making arrangements (continued)

The neighbourhood has arranged a Quran khwani for Z.

In the video below, a family prays and prepares to visit a family member on death row for the last time.

Updated 09 Oct, 2018 04:06pm

2:00pm: Making arrangements

Prisoner Z’s brother has managed to borrow enough money from friends and neighbours for his father and Z’s daughters to get to Lahore.

Prisoner Z's daughters.—JPP
Prisoner Z's daughters.—JPP

Published 09 Oct, 2018 01:45pm

1:45pm: Letter to daughters

Prisoner Z’s daughters are preparing to see their father for the final time. Zulfiqar, the inspiration for Z, was very worried about this daughters before his execution.

Published 09 Oct, 2018 01:30pm

1:30pm: Prison regulations

The assistant superintendent has visited Prisoner Z and has confirmed that prison regulations are being followed.

Published 09 Oct, 2018 01:21pm

1:15pm: Zuhr prayers

Prisoner Z offers his zuhr prayers.

Z's prayer mat.–JPP
Z's prayer mat.–JPP

Published 09 Oct, 2018 01:00pm

1:00pm: Last minute effort

Prisoner Z’s brother attempted to contact the victim’s family to try to arrange reconciliation with them. Their number was disconnected.

Published 09 Oct, 2018 12:08pm

Noon: Lunch

Prisoner Z’s father sacrificed the family goat when he heard about his execution. Z’s daughter is cooking mutton biryani, his favourite dish, to bring to him when they visit.

Meanwhile, Z is served his simple meal of tea and biscuits to keep him from gaining weight or getting ill.

Prisoner Z at his lunch of tea and biscuits.—JPP
Prisoner Z at his lunch of tea and biscuits.—JPP