A PROFILE OF FIREARM RELATED AUTOPSY CASES AT BAHAWALPUR – A CITY OF SOUTHERN PUNJAB

Introduction: Firearm-related deaths are a major forensic and public health concern, particularly in regions with high gun violence. Understanding demographics, weapon types, and injury patterns is essential for prevention and policy-making. Objective: To analyze the demographic distribution, firearm types, and injury patterns in firearm-related deaths. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College (QAMC), Bahawalpur, covering a period of two years. Forty-seven cases, all firearm-related deaths, were examined postmortem. Selection was based on police records (FIRs) confirming firearm involvement. Cases with mutilated, putrefied bodies or ambiguous causative weapons were excluded. Data were collected through structured proforma and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total number of 47 cases were evaluated. Males were the predominant gender (66%), and an urban population (70.2%) with rifled firearm proclivity (78.7%) was observed. Fatal injury to the head and neck (40.4%) was the most common site of body injury. Conclusion: Firearm-related fatalities in Bahawalpur predominantly involve young males in urban areas, with head and neck injuries being the most frequent. Strengthening firearm regulations, enhancing forensic investigations, and improving emergency trauma care are crucial to reducing these deaths. A coordinated effort between law enforcement, forensic experts, and healthcare professionals is necessary to mitigate firearm-related mortality.