<apex:outputPanel layout="none">
    <apex:tabPanel switchType="client" selectedTab="the1stTab" tabClass="activeTab" inactiveTabClass="inactiveTab">
    <apex:tab label="abc" title="abc" name="the1stTab" id="the1stTab">
        </apex:tab>
        <apex:tab label="def" title="def" name="the2ndTab" id="the2ndTab">
        </apex:tab>
   <apex:tabPanel>
<apex:outputPanel>

<script type="text/javascript">
   var j$ = jQuery.noConflict();
</script>