... four star general, current Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army. Kayani is the former Director General of ISI...
on Sunday confirmed he will retire next month at the end of his second tenure, ending rumors he would seek to keep a key military role.
Kayani, who oversaw Pakistain's first democratic transfer of power, will retire on November 29 in a move likely to be seen as pushing forward the country's development as a democracy.
"It is time for others to carry forward the mission of making Pakistain a truly democratic, prosperous and peaceful country that embodies the finest dreams our founding fathers had envisaged for us," he said in a statement.
Kayani was appointed Chief of the Army Staff in 2007 and was given an additional three-year term in 2010.
The Mighty Pak Army chief is considered the most powerful man in the country, commanding a force of around 600,000 and guiding policy in defense as well as in foreign and home affairs.
The country has suffered three coups and been ruled for more than half of its 66-year history by the military.
But Kayani is generally seen as a supporter of democracy, who helped the country complete its first democratic transition of power earlier this year and has also led the military in the so-called war on terror.
He played a key role in convincing former dictator General
Pervez PervMusharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
to resign in 2008 and pushing then president Asif Ali Zardari to reinstate sacked judges in 2009.
"I share the general opinion that institutions and traditions are stronger than individuals and must take precedence," he said in his statement.