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Mr. Qamar was the youngest of seven. His four brothers live in the Toronto area, while two sisters live in the United States and Norway.

Hundreds of people flocked to the Maple mosque Monday to offer their condolences to the distraught imam.

Mr. Chaudhary said family members had left Pakistan because of religious persecution. Although Ahmadi Muslims generally live in fear because of the laws against them in Pakistan, Mr. Chaudhary said his brother was not particularly concerned before he left for Pakistan.

The town where he was killed, Chenab Nagar, also known as Rabwah, is the centre of the Ahmadi community in Pakistan and considered safe.

“This never happened in this town before,” Mr. Chaudhary said, adding that be believed his brother may have been targeted because he was visiting from the U.S.

“We think they had some news about him coming from the U.S. There is a fatwa against the institution where he was going to help no one should go there for treatment. They chased him down after morning prayer.”

Mr. Qamar came to Canada in 1991 and began studying medicine before getting U.S. residency and moving there. He held dual American and Canadian citizenship. He visited family in Markham recently and told them he was coming back to Canada for good once he returned from his trip.

The Ahmadi movement has about 10 million followers worldwide, including about 1.5 million in Pakistan. Ahmadi Muslims were declared “non-Muslims” in Pakistan in 1974 and it became a criminal act for them to call themselves Muslims or vote.

National Post