Bus Kar Do – Street theatre to raise awareness against death penalty
Since December 2014, 477 prisoners have been executed in Pakistan at an astonishing rate of four per week
October 04, 2017
LAHORE: The unofficial death penalty moratorium that was in place during the last Pakistan People’s Party government was lifted in December 2014. Since then, 477 prisoners have been executed at the astonishing rate of four per week.
Despite data showing that the death penalty does not lead to a decrease in crime, executions continue unabated in Pakistan.
To commemorate the World Day Against the Death Penalty, which falls on October 10, the Lahore-based Justice Project Pakistan, in collaboration with the Azad Theatre and Highlight Arts has launched a unique project titled, Bus Kar Do.
The initiative will include a week-long bus tour through several cities of Punjab and Sindh.
Once the bus arrives in a city, the actors will travel to the heart of the local community and perform the play “Intezar- The Wait.”
The play is based on real life stories of prisoners waiting on death row, some of whom have been executed by now.
In line with the global theme of poverty and injustice, Bus Kar Do aims to bring more awareness surrounding the death penalty’s systemic targeting of the poor and the vulnerable of the society.
The JPP will also set up postcard booths where onlookers can write to President Mamoon Hussain, asking for clemency for Abdul Basit, a paralyzed prisoner on death row for a decade, who has twice come within seconds of being executed.
