Incarcerated ex-premier Nawaz Sharif was shifted on Friday from Kot Lakhpat Jail to Lahore's Jinnah hospital for medical treatment.

The former three-time prime minister was shifted to the hospital amid strict security. A huge number of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz supporters and workers were gathered outside, local media reported.

A notification was issued by the Punjab Home Department on Thursday, which granted permission to Sharif to be shifted to Jinnah hospital for a minimum period. The home department has also declared the private ward of Jinnah hospital a sub-jail for Sharif.

Earlier in February, the former premier was shifted to Services Hospital for medical treatment. However, after a couple of day, Sharif insisted that to shift back to Kot Lakhpat Jail after which he was shifted there. Sharif had been serving his seven-year jail term awarded to him by an accountability court in the Al-Azizia corruption case.