Chronology

12 October 1999 Nawaz Sharif ousted in coup 18 November Sharif formally arrested 19 January 2000 Sharif and six co-accused charged 26 January Trial begins in special court 6 April Sharif found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment 12 April Sharif files appeal with High Court

Reports say Mr Sharif arrived in Jeddah accompanied by his ailing father, Mian Mohammad Sharif, his jailed brother, Shahbaz Sharif, wife Kulsoom Nawaz and other close relatives.

Earlier, the military government said Mr Sharif, who has been suffering from chest pains, had applied to go abroad for medical treatment.

He had been serving sentence in a 16th-century fort in Islamabad, and was reportedly transferred to a military hospital before his departure from Pakistan.

Mr Sharif's wife was packing family possessions on Saturday, in anticipation of the departure.

She fought back tears as she told reporters of her fears for her husband's health.

"His face becomes pale and he grabs his chest while walking even up to the toilet," she said.

'Stable condition'

"I am prepared to take my whole family abroad if given a chance. I'll go by the first flight. Even if he refuses to go abroad, I'll take him with me."

A government spokesman said Mr Sharif was in a stable condition.

Nawaz Sharif had been charged along with six co-defendants - one of whom was his brother Shahbaz.

But they were acquitted, and an appeal against that decision by the prosecution was also turned down by Monday's high court verdict.

Endangering

The ousted premier was charged with endangering the lives of General Musharraf and nearly 200 passengers on a commercial flight last October.

General Musharraf was returning to Pakistan from Sri Lanka and Sharif was said to have issued orders preventing the plane from landing in Karachi.

The plane was eventually able to land and Sharif was overthrown after the military seized control.

Nawaz Sharif has also been sentenced to 14 years in prison for corruption in a separate trial.