ISLAMABAD - The two political cousins, who are allies in the ongoing anti-government movement, were at each other's throats here on Thursday over a trivial matter.

It all started outside the Supreme Court building when PTI Central Information Secretary Naeemul Haq and PAT leader Khurram Nawaz Gandapur exchanged hot words at a time when both were ready for a separate media talk after the hearing of Panama leaks case.

Both the leader accused each other of using abusive language. Gandapur also accused Naeemul Haq of pushing him back to make room for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan for a media talk.

Talking to the media, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader said he was having some chit chat with the Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed when the PTI leader pushed him back.

"What democracy they (PTI) will practice, they are pushing others saying that their ‘emperor’ (Imran Khan) is coming," he said.

AML chief Sheikh Rasheed tried to play the role of a mediator but both the leaders were not ready to cool down their tempers. Both of them refused to apologise from each other.

While, this controversy had not settled down, Naeemul Haq made another faux pas when he in a press statement called the PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri a ‘Molvi’, a word which Dr Qadri would have surely minded.

“It would be better that Molvi Tahir Qadri should call Gandapur in Canada for Taleem-e-balgaan (adult education),” he said, adding that Dr Qadri stays most of the time in Canada and has Canadian nationality as well.

PTI leader said his party would lodge a complaint with the PAT chief against the attitude of Gandapur. He alleged that Gandapur not only used foul language against him but also against his leader Imran Khan.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the PAT leadership condemned the behaviour of Naeemul Haq and said that he wanted to isolate PTI, reported some TV channels. The meeting said that PAT would launch a complaint against Naeem with the PTI leadership.

PTI and PAT have been allies in the past and ran their anti-government movements in coordination. PTI and PAT both had held a joint sit-in in front of the Parliament in 2014 for 126 days against alleged rigging in General Elections of 2013 and killings of PAT workers in Model Town Lahore. PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri had also supported the November 2 Islamabad lockdown plan of PTI but had said that his party would refrain from participating in it.