Syed Khan, 40, has already confessed to the murder of his new wife, 18 year-old Masooma, and that of his 'elder' wife, 25 year-old Riza Gul, a mother of three.
A motive has yet to be established. Preliminary reports say that the man hacked at his wives' heads with an axe after an argument.
Since the collapse of Taliban rule in 2001, the Afghan constitution has accorded women equal rights with men, stating that "the citizens of Afghanistan - whether men or women - have equal rights and duties before the law."
However, infringements on women's rights are still common across the country, especially in rural areas. Around one third of the country's female population has admitted to experiencing physical, psychological or sexual violence.
