WASHINGTON - Students attempting to complete an assignment for their investigative journalism class at Georgetown University ran into a bit of a roadblock--the CIA, FBI (web) , The Department of Defense (web) and five other government agencies.

"They called sources in Pakistan; they found sources in Washington; they poured over documents (((and)) left no stone unturned...but we have hit a roadblock," said Georgetown University Professor Barbara Todd Feinman of her students.

Professor Feinman started the investigative journalism class at Georgetown University more than a year ago, and one of the assignments given to her students was to find out why and how Wall Street reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered in Karachi, Pakistan.

Feinman, however, says the CIA, FBI, The Department of Defense and five other government agencies have improperly withheld records relating to the case. Feinman contests that under the Freedom of Information Act she has the legal right to gain access to the documents. As a result, the nonprofit center for public integrity, which houses the pearl project, has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court.

Former journalism student, Rebecca Tapscott worked on the project for a year and hopes the lawsuit will uncover important documents and sources.

"Who knows if there is more information, but hopefully if there is, it's out there and through the correct process it can be identified and brought in to complete the story," Tapscott said. "it is unfortunate that you can't just operate as a student journalist [and] seek that information."

In a written statement, a CIA spokesperson said, "While I cannot comment on specific matters before the court, the CIA has played a decisive role in fighting terror and was key to the capture of Khalid Sheik Muhammad, who has boasted about the murder of Daniel Pearl."

"The burden is on the government to demonstrate that there's a reason why to maintain these documents in its possession without releasing them to the public," said Mark Zaid, a lawyer.

Meanwhile, Professor Feinman says that while she never wanted to sue, she will do whatever it takes to rest the case.

"We want this project to not only solve this particular case of who killed Daniel Pearl, [but for] all the journalists around the world who are taking chances," added Feinman.

It is unclear how long the lawsuit will take, but Todd says she will continue to move forward on publishing a report on the Pearl Project by summer 2009. She also says she will not put the project to rest until she has has all the answers.

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